§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has recently withdrawn grants amounting to £10,000 from the education authority for the county of London, owing to the authority neglecting to carry out the instructions conveyed in certain articles of the Code; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of dealing in the same manner with those education authorities who refuse to efficiently administer the Education (Provision of Meals) Act and the Acts and regulations relating to medical inspection and treatment of school children?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)With regard to the first part of the question, it is the practice of the Board to reduce the grants payable in respect of any public elementary school in which there is a serious failure to comply with the provisions of the Code, for which no adequate excuse can be found. The Board's practice in this respect is not confined to London. With regard to the second part of the question, the provision of meals and the medical treatment of school children are voluntary services. The Board of Education have a statutory control over local education authorities who choose to exercise their powers in respect of these services, but they have no authority to require local education authorities either to provide meals for school children or to make arrangements for their medical treatment. No question of a reduction of grant for failure to perform these services can, therefore, arise. As regards medical inspection, I am not aware that any local education authorities have refused to carry out their duties in this respect.
§ Mr. HOAREWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making grants to education authorities to enable them to carry out this work?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid I cannot at the present moment recommend any extension of the grant system to voluntary services.