§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education will he explain why it is that, whilst the accounts of School Boards throughout the country are subject to examination and audit by officers of the Local Government Board, there is no Departmental check upon the accounts of State-aided denominational schools; and whether the Government will take such steps as may be necessary for having the accounts of all denominational schools in receipt of Government grants subjected to a Departmental audit?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)In the case of the schools to which the hon. Member refers, the Education Department, before paying the grant, require to be satisfied that the accounts of income and expenditure are accurately kept by the managers, and duly audited, and they also require that the accounts shall be published, and be open to inspection for a year. The Inspector also reports annually on the accounts, and inspects the vouchers. In view of the expense which must necessarily attend the employment of Government auditors for the accounts of voluntary schools, I think that there would be considerable difficulty at present in making such arrangements as are suggested by the hon. Member.