§ MR. CHARLES MORLEY (Brecknock)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether the 432 Corporation of Preston is the only public authority in England that has spent no part of the grants from the Customs and Excise Duties under the Local Taxation Act, 1890, upon technical or higher education; whether he is aware that this Corporation allowed the grants to accumulate until last year, when it diverted over £6,000 to the Borough Fund Account in relief of local rates; and whether any special circumstances exist in Preston to render the application of the money to higher education inexpedient?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordThe facts appear to be as stated in the Question. I have communicated with the Town Council, and am informed that they have applied the moneys received from the Customs and Excise Duties Grants in relief of the Borough Rate under special circumstances—these circumstances being that they have, at a cost of about £16,000, given a site for a technical school now in course of erection.