§ SIR G. KEKEWICHTo ask the President of the Board of Education whether deductions have been made from the grants to residential training colleges during the past year at the rate of one-fourteenth of a £1 for every day's absence of a male student and one-twenty-first of a £1 for every day's absence of a female student; whether any notice was given 872 to the authorities of the colleges that such deduction would be made; whether there is any authority for the proceeding in any published document issued by the Board; and what is the total sum that has been deducted from the grants.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The hon. Member has misunderstood the regulation in question, which is not as stated in the Question, but is that a deduction of £1 is made for each complete fortnight in the case of men, and complete three weeks in the case of women. The rule is a continuation, only in a less drastic form, of a rule which has always existed, and is amply justified by paragraphs 56 (v.) and (vi.) of the regulations. It did not appear necessary to make any general announcement of the modification of the rule. The total sum deducted under this rule is £260. The Board have consented to receive a deputation on this and other subjects from the principals of training colleges.