HC Deb 09 March 1908 vol 185 cc1121-2
MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, in relation to the maximum grant of 47s. per child mentioned in the Education Bill, there is any minimum grant which the Board of Education will be obliged to pay to managers or trustees of such voluntary schools as are duly certified as efficient elementary schools.

MR. MCKENNA

The new grant will be administered on the same lines as the block grant of 22s. at present in the Code.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR (City of London)

said it would be convenient if the managers of voluntary schools were able to form a conjecture as to the amount of the average grant. The maximum grant was 47s., but there was no minimum grant. What was it anticipated the average grant would be?

MR. MCKENNA

The form adopted in this Bill is the ordinary form. The grant in every case will be presumably 47s., just as 22s. is now the block grant. Of course the 47s. will be subject to deductions for fines. Under the Bill as it now stands the general grant will be 47s.

LORD R. CECIL

asked whether 47s. would be the universal grant; or whether the grant would be generally 47s. and sometimes lower.

MR. MCKENNA

I safeguard myself by saying it will not be a universal grant. As in the past, individual schools will, I regret to say, suffer fines; but the ordinary grant will in every case be 47s.

LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)

asked whether there would be any obligation on the Board of Education to pay to efficient voluntary schools any particular sum, or any sum whatever.

MR. MCKENNA

If Parliament votes the money, it will be the duty of the Board to pay it.

LORD BALCARRES

Under the Bill?

MR. MCKENNA

The Bill does not provide the money. The money will have to be voted every year by Parliament. When Parliament votes the money, the Board of Education will pay it.

LORD R. CECIL

Will it be provided in the Vote that so much money is to be paid to each voluntary school?

MR. MCKENNA

It can be so provided, if it is considered necessary.