§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he will state approximately what loss will be caused to the State-aided elementary schools in Banffshire, having secondary departments, by the enforcement of the 17s. 6d. limit with reference to the higher grants allowed by the new Code, supposing the results of the present year are not less favourable than those of last year; whether he is aware that in the Aberdeen University bursary competition last year candidates from Banffshire secured first places in Latin, Greek, and German; and that in one Banffshire school (Fordyce) a pupil took honours in no less than four subjects in the leaving certificate examination; and whether, looking to these excellent results, the Department will make good, out of the £35,000, any loss which these schools may suffer from the 17s. 6d. limit.
§ * MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYIt is impossible to estimate what loss, if any, will be caused to the schools in Banffshire by the 17s. 6d. limit until the accounts of the schools, which may fulfil the conditions of Chapter IX. of the Code, are submitted and examined. The conditions of last year afford no data for such an estimate. I have no doubt that the facts stated by the hon. Member are correct. I am aware that good work is done in secondary departments in Banffshire, and I hope that they will be able to earn substantial grants for this under the new Code. The Minute of 27th April would not permit any part of the grant with which it deals to be applied for the purpose suggested.