§ MR. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education 1541 whether the necessitous area school grants are to be confined this year to those areas which established their claim to them last year, although other areas have now greater need; whether these original beneficiaries have now established a special right to a subsidy from the Exchequer not enjoyed by other districts; and how long this subsidy is to continue.
§ MR. McKENNAIn order to ensure that the sum available for distribution should not be exceeded, it was necessary to limit the recipient authorities to those who established a claim in the preceding year. I hope to bring forward in connection with the forthcoming Education Bill financial provisions dealing with Exchequer grants in aid of the expenditure of local authorities under Part III. of the Act, in which due regard will be had, amongst other things, to the rate-burden in certain areas.
§ MR. ALDEN (Middlesex, Tottenham)asked whether any reduction in the advances to necessitous districts had been made this year.
§ MR. McKENNAsaid he could not tell in each individual case whether it was so or not; but a limitation had been put on the amount which was allowed for the purpose of administration.
§ MR. WEDGWOODasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that there were now many local areas in the country not entitled to the grant, where the rates were heavier than in other areas which were receiving these grants.
§ MR. McKENNAsaid there were such areas, but they were very few.