HC Deb 04 May 1891 vol 353 cc52-3
MR. H. H. FOWLER: (Wolverhampton, E.)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counties and county boroughs have applied the contribution made from the Beer and Spirit Duties to technical education; and what are the amounts so applied?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, Dartford

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. From the Returns already received in reply to a Circular issued by the Science and Art Department at the end of March last, it appears that of the 50 County Councils and 60 county boroughs in England, 16 of the former and 25 of the latter have already decided to apply the whole of their share of the residue under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act of 1890 to Science and Art and technical education. Nine County Councils and two county boroughs have made grants varying from "nearly the whole" to a smaller proportion of their share to the same purpose. Twelve County Councils and seven county boroughs have the matter under consideration; that is to say, they have appointed Committees, and in many cases the Committees have recommended the allocation of the whole, or the greater part of the residue fund, to technical instruction, but their Reports have not yet been confirmed by the County or Borough Councils. I am not able to give the amounts, but they can be supplied in the form of a Return if the right hon. Gentleman will move for it later in the Session, when the information will be more complete. With regard to Wales, the question is complicated by the fact that the Welsh Intermediate Education Act includes technical instruction, but it appears that four County Councils and one county borough have applied the whole of their share of the residue under the Intermediate Education Act; while two County Councils and one county borough have divided their quota between that Act and the Technical In- struction Act. The remaining County Councils have either made no Return or else have the matter under consideration.

MR. H. H. FOWLER

May I ask whether, having regard to the fact that so large a number of County Authorities have followed the example of the County of London, and have not applied this money to technical education, the Government will be prepared to make such application compulsory?

SIR W. HART DYKE

That is a question that may be worth considering.

MR. ROWNTREE (Scarborough)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board in how many counties have any arrangements been made by which non-county boroughs will be intrusted with the application and distribution of their share of the contribution of the Beer and Spirit Duties available for technical education under Clause 1, Sub-section 3, of "The Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties Act, 1890"?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George's

As a considerable number of counties have not yet come to a final decision as to the allocation of the duties referred to, it is not possible to give a complete statement on the subject. I shall have no objection to giving a Return showing the allocation when I am in a position to make it a complete one.