§ MR. HEDDERWICK; I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the fact that the parish of Stornoway, in Lewis, has recently erected a school at Stornoway for secondary education at a cost of over £3,500; whether, under the operation of the Education (Scotland) Bill now before the House, some of the grants at present applied by the local authorities to the relief of rates would be withdrawn from that purpose, and an increase of rates which, owing to the largeness of the population and the lowness of the valuation, already amount to several shillings in the £, would in consequence be necessitated; and what stops he proposes to take in the matter.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI am 913 aware that the School Board of Stornoway have, a few months ago, raised a loan of more than £3,000 for school building. It would be premature at present to attempt to forecast what may be the financial effect of the Bill now before the House in particular instances. But the effect of that Bill would be to devote to educational purposes any sum withdrawn from relief of rates, and thus add to the educational resources of the various localities.