§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether, considering the very great decrease in the average attendances at schools in the remote districts of Scotland caused by the storms of last winter, and the consequent loss of grants to School Boards, these grants and the Probate Duty paid in lieu of school fees might this year be paid on the average attendance of last year.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton)I have already stated how far we can make allowance for exceptional circumstances in regard to weather by permitting a proportionate deduction from the required number of attendances if a school has to be closed by stress of weather, and also by allowing the register not to be marked in exceptional circumstances. But it would not be in the power of the Department to pay grants on the basis of the average attendance of last year.