§ COLONEL MILWARD (Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether his attention has been directed to the difference between the English and Scotch annual grants for day and evening scholars in Public Elementary Schools, the English grant for day scholars in 1895–6 being 18s. 8½d. per head, while the Scotch grant is 21s. 3d.; the English grant for evening scholars being 16s. per head, while the Scotch grant is 20s.; and, whether he will take steps to redress the disadvantage to English school managers arising from the non-receipt of this large sum of money?
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST, Cambridge University)I have inquired about this, and am informed that, besides the intelligence and industry of the Scottish youth, there are two reasons for the higher grant earned in Scottish Day Schools: (1) The 17s. 6d. limit which restricts the amount earned, applies in very few schools in Scotland; (2) Pupils, who in England would be found in secondary schools, are in Scotland earning grants for the study of 1442 higher subjects in the elementary schools. As to evening schools, besides their freedom from the restriction of the 17s. 6d. limit, the season is considerably longer, and the time grant earned is thus greater per pupil. Measures for the relief of English managers are, as I have already stated, now under the consideration of the Committee of Council.