§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that Scotland's share of the General Aid Grant for the current year will amount to £305,618, and that it has recently been decided that it is open to any school board to apply its share of the grant or any portion thereof to improving the health conditions of its schools, will he consider the expediency of enabling school boards in the Highland crofting counties to apply a portion of the grant for the purpose of providing necessary meals for school children.
§ MR. SINCLAIRThe General Aid Grant is, like other grants, paid into the School Fund, and is therefore applicable to any purpose to which by law that fund is applicable. The question of whether the School Fund may be drawn upon for the purpose in question is one which is under consideration in connection with the Bill which I hope to introduce this week.
§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that Scotland's share of the General Aid Grant for the current year will amount to £305,618, will he state how much of that sum will fall to the share of Ross-shire, and, in view of the difficulty experienced in finding money in the Island of Lewis and other remote parts of the county for the construction of school footpaths, can he see his way to allow school boards to apply a portion of their share of the 484 grant to the construction of footpaths where such paths are absolutely necessary.
§ MR. SINCLAIRThe General Aid Grant is not distributed according to counties, but in terms of the General Aid Grant Minute, a copy of which was laid on the Table of the House on the 11th March.