§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the last report of the Local Government Board auditor on the accounts of the Surrey Education Committee stated that sums amounting to over £5,900 had been illegally charged ' on the rates, making the rates liable to be quashed on objection; that considerable sums had been paid to managers for wear and tear and not refunded, although the education committee had decided that no such sums should be paid for the year under audit; that lump sums from the county funds had been placed at the disposal of managers of non-provided schools without I requiring accounts of these moneys to be audited; and, if so, what action has been taken, and what guarantees have been given, against the recurrence of such irregularities.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The auditor's report contained statements which were substantially to the effect indicated in the Question. I have received a copy of the reply of the education committee to that report, from which it would appear that the sums, amounting to over £5,900, referred to were raised by rates in certain special areas without account being taken of the net balances of the previous school authorities for those areas. The committee say that it was impossible to ascertain these balances at the time when the estimates for the rates had to be made, and that under the circumstances they were justified in making arrangements which would allow of o the necessary adjustments being carried out at a later date. I understand that the auditor was assured that the sums for wear and tear would be dealt with in adjusting future accounts between the Committee and the managers. With respect to the sums advanced by the Education Committee to the managers, the auditor reports that I arrangements were ultimately made for examining and checking the managers' I cash books, although this was imperfectly 69 done. As I stated in reply to a previous Question by the hon. Member on the subject, the education committee have drawn up some detailed instruction, with a view of securing that in future the financial transactions and accounts of the managers shall be properly controlled and supervised.