§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that the Governors of the Trust for Education in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland withheld the grant for the year 1900 from the Ullapool School Board on account of alleged irregularities in the years 1898 and 1899; and in view of the fact that this action on the part of the governors of the trust will throw an additional burden on the school board rates for this district, will the Scotch Education Department take such steps as may be necessary to secure to the board the grant for 1900.
*MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYThe answer to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. The irregularities referred to by the hon. Member, which are admitted by the school board, rendered the grant liable to permanent reduction or withdrawal. In deciding to withhold the grant for one year only, the Governors of the Trust for Education in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have made a very moderate use of their powers under the scheme, 1321 and the Department see no reason to interfere with their decision.