§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that, in consequence of the education grant to the borough of West Ham being of a less amount than last year, an increase in the education rate of 1½d. in the pound has been caused; and whether he can see his way to make an extra grant in consequence of West Ham being one of the highest rated education authorities in the country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)I am aware that the share of the special grant for necessitous areas received by West 354 Ham in respect of the last financial year was considerably reduced owing to the operation of Section 5 of the Regulations. I regret, however, that I cannot contemplate any extension of the scope of that grant, which is strictly limited to the sum of £200,000 voted by Parliament. I may, perhaps, add that the sum received by West Ham from that grant in respect of the last financial year was more than £30,000 in excess of the sum received by any other local education authority In England or Wales.