§ MR. CALDWELLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, in the accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1889, Class IV., Vote 10, that—
During the year 1888–9 Grants amounting altogether to £2,876 5s. were paid to Hillhead, Hamilton Crescent, and Bellahouston Schools, Govan, and to Harris Academy, Dundee, although the average fee from each scholar exceeded 9d. per week. Similar payments were reported last year, the Department pleading in justification the terms of the Code of 1887. The Code, however, in that respect was admittedly in opposition to the terms of section 3 of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, and, consequently, inoperative; but, under the circumstances, the Treasury sanctioned the payments, on the understanding that they were not to be continued beyond the year 1887–8. As stated in my last Report, the payments have been continued in the year 1888–9, in opposition both to the Act and to the Amended Code of 1888;whether these schools are still on the list of State-aided schools entitled to Government grant; and whether the Treasury intend taking any steps in the matter?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe question raised in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General turns upon certain differences in the interpretation placed upon the latter of the Treasury. The Comptroller and Auditor General refers to the explanation given by the Accounting Officer, but states that he is unable to accept the responsibility of passing the grants without noticing them in his Report. The question will now come under the review of the Committee on Public Accounts, and the Treasury will await the judgment of that Committee. The schools referred to have not been removed from the list of schools conditionally entitled to State aid, but they will not continue to receive Government grants should the average fee be found to exceed 9d a week.