§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the county of Essex will have a deficit of sixpence in the pound, owing to delay in payment of grant, and a net rate of nine-pence, which, added to the sixpence, comes out to fifteen pence in the pound; and whether he can take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to relieve the ratepayers of this impost.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford UniversityI have really nothing to add to my reply of Monday last to a similar Question addressed to me by the hon. Member for North Camberwell.† While not desiring either to dispute or to accept the figures given in the first part of the Question, I may say that I am aware of the existence of the difficulty; but the burden of this initial charge may be to a very large extent obviated by the arrangements which the Board of Education have made for the earlier payments of grants, and by the fact that a local authority may, if they desire, apply to the Local Government Board for permission to spread the charge over a period of years. It does not appear to be a matter to be dealt with by legislation.