asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to establish St. George's Day as a general school holiday, in view of the fact that Scotland, Ireland and Wales each specially celebrate their national festivals; and whether he will recommend that the day prior to St. George's Day be devoted to teaching the principal events in English history?

Both these suggestions relate to matters which are within the discretion of the school and local education authorities, and I doubt if my Intervention would serve any useful purpose.

Will the Noble Lord make representations to education authorities suggesting that this ought to be kept as a national holiday?

I doubt very much whether it would be right for the central Government to start recommending what should be national holidays. It is a fashion that might spread in an inconvenient way.

That is very clever of the Noble Lord. Is he aware that in some of the Dominions overseas it has been the custom for a long period of time to have a school holiday on this day?

I am aware of that fact.

Is the Noble Lord not aware that there is no general school holiday in Scotland on St. Andrew's day?