§ MR. GARDNER (Berkshire, Wokingham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether it is implied by the provisions of Article 25 (c) of the Code of 1908, that grants may be entirely withheld from all the schools under a local education authority, if that authority does not provide for medical inspection under the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907; and whether, instead of receiving any grant for their new work, the education authorities will be liable to lose grants altogether if they fail to perform that additional work to 1495 the satisfaction of the Board of Education.
§ MR. RUNCIMANSection 13 (2) of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, imposes upon local education authorities the duty of providing for the medical inspection of children. Article 25 (c) of the Code makes compliance with this statutory duty a condition of the receipt of the Parliamentary grants. With regard to the last paragraph of the Question, I can only repeat what I and my predecessor have already stated, that the Government are unable to hold out any hope of a special grant in anticipation of the additional sum to be provided in connection with the Education Bill.