§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to certain irregular and illegal payments of the grants for small populations (Code, Articles 104 and 105) made during the year ended August, 1891 (Return No. 336, 1892), among which occur cases of grants paid on the population of an ecclesiastical or other district not being a school district as defined by the Education Acts, and grants paid to a school recognised as supplying more than one district, although the population of the combined districts is in excess of the statutory limit; and whether he will take any, and, if so, what, steps in order to prevent a recurrence of such payments?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamMy attention has been called to certain cases in which irregularities have occurred in the payment of grants under Articles 104 and 105 of the Code. But for some months past special attention has been given to the conditions under which these grants are made, and means taken to prevent any irregularity in future, by requiring fuller particulars from the school authorities, and instructing Her Majesty's Inspector to satisfy himself as to the accuracy of their figures. Directions will also be given that the 1541 new Census Returns for parishes shall be carefully considered in connection with the small population grants.