HC Deb 03 May 1889 vol 335 cc1087-8
MR. BUCHANAN

asked the Lord Advocate when the Minute of the Scotch Education Department stating the mode by which the portion of the Probate Duty set apart for the payment of school fees under section 19 of the Local Government (Scotland) Bill will be issued?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) Buteshire

The manner in which the portion of the Probate Duty Grant which it is proposed to apply in relief from the payment of school fees may be distributed is now under consideration by the Scotch Education Department. In the debate on the Second Reading of the Scotch Local Government Bill we hope to be able to indicate the chief features of the scheme which we propose to submit; but until the general proposal has received confirmation by Parliament, it would be premature for the Department to lay upon the Table the Minute referred to in the Clause. We are anxious that the scheme should be in accordance with local requirements and should meet as fully as possible the reasonable claims of all those interested, and in order that the plan adopted may be one which best fulfils these conditions any suggestions which those interested may wish to offer should be forwarded to the Scotch Education Department without delay and will receive their Lordships' most careful attention.

MR. BUCHANAN

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman state on the Second Reading of the Bill the general lines on which he proposes to allot this money?

*MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSON

Yes, that will be done in accordance with the intimation I have already given.