§ SIR RICHARD PAGET (Somerset, Wells)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to enable County Councils to frame definite schemes of a permanent 'character for the provision of technical education in their respective counties, he will be good enough to state if County Councils are justified in acting on the assumption that they may reckon with certainty on receiving in future years the like sums, to be appropriated under the like conditions, as that set forth in Section 7 of "The Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1890," and Section 1 of "The Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890?"
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)My hon. Friend will perhaps allow me to refer him to the answer I gave in this connection to my noble Friend the Member for the Rossendale Division on the 4th of December last. I should not feel authorised to make any definite announcement till I make my Budget speech.
§ MR. HINCKES (Staffordshire, Leek)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Council whether a Local Authority may supply technical instruction to scholars still receiving instruction at an elementary school, but who have passed the standards fixed by the bye-laws in force in the district for total exemption from attendance at school?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE, Kent, Dartford)The Technical Instructions Act forbids the grant of aid by the Local Authority for the instruction of scholars in any of the obligatory or standard subjects prescribed by the Education Department, and not merely in the standards fixed by the bye-laws of the district for exemption from attendance at school.
§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, and how, the sums paid into the various county funds under "The Local Taxation Act, 1890," and available for technical education, will be distinguished from the sums paid out of the Exchequer into the same funds under "The Local Government Act, 1888," and when the first-mentioned sums are likely to be paid?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE, Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Local Government Board, in making payments to the Councils of counties and county boroughs, have distinguished the sums derived from Beer and Spirit Duties from those in respect of Probate and Licence Duties. The authorities have, therefore, the necessary information as to the amounts received by them, which are available for technical education. Up to the present time, the sums thus available, which have been paid to the authorities, is £242, 761. As soon as the necessary adjustments have been made by the Local Government Act Commissioners in the case of counties which include county boroughs, further payments will be made.