HC Deb 18 May 1903 vol 122 cc930-1
MR. LAMBERT

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state when the year commences for payment to voluntary schools under the Act of 1897; when the last audit took place of the accounts of these schools; whether the whole of the 5s. grant was spent each year, and, if not, whether any estimate has been formed as to balances remaining in hands of associations after providing for their schools up to the appointed day of the Act of last year; to what purpose will these balances be applied; and will they be spent in the current financial year.

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

The grants under the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, are for the financial year commencing 1st April in each year. The accounts of each voluntary school are audited in each case at the end of the school year. There has been an audit therefore in every case within a twelvemonth. Aid grant is given in respect of the financial year and not of any particular school year; in many cases it would be impossible for managers to expend it within the school year during which it happens to be paid. The Board of Education always satisfy themselves that it is expended within a reasonable time on the objects for which it is given. Hitherto no part of the grant has been put into the hands of an association; the grants have been paid direct to the schools by the Board of Education on the recommendation of the governing bodies. Schedule II. (12) of the Education Act, 1902, empowers the Foard of Education to pay the aid grant for the current financial year that may be allotted to any association direct to the governing body instead of to individual schools, if satisfied that suitable arrangements are made for its application. Some governing bodies are applying for the whole aid grant, some for part of it, to be so paid over; arrangements for its application are under consideration. It is at present impossible to calculate what the amount so handed over will be. The purposes to which the whole of the money will be applied are those purposes for which managers will in future be responsible under the Act. There is no reason why the money should be spent in the current financial year.

MR. LAMBERT

Is it the intention of the Board of Education to pay the aid grant to the governing bodies in future?

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

The Board of Education will endeavour to carry out the provision of the Education Act.

MR. LAMBERT

That is not quite the point. Do the Board of the Education, instead of paying these sums to the individual schools, intend to pay them to the governing bodies of the associations?

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

The Board of Education is empowered to do so, when satisfied that suitable arrangements are made for their application.

MR. LAMBERT

Will they do so?

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

If they are satisfied that suitable arrangements are made for their application.