§ Mr. HOAREasked whether the right hon. Gentleman can give the names of those local authorities who have intimated to the Board of Education, either by deputation or by letter, their objections to certain of the existing regulations with regard to evening schools; or, if the labour of preparing such return would be excessive, would he give the names of those authorities who have protested against the regulation respecting grants for courses of instruction or registration or both?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo such return would be of any value. Representations have been made to the Board with reference to their regulations, in some cases by local authorities, and in some cases by associations representing local authorities. The regulations, to which I understand the hon. Member to refer in the second part of his question, are needed to safeguard the expenditure of public money, and to obtain the information necessary for a complete revision of the regulations.
§ Mr. HOAREWill the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the number of local authorities that have made representations is large?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know what representations the hon. Member is referring to, but representations are made from time to time with regard to the regulations of the Board, and I cannot distinguish between them.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI think the hon. Member must be misinformed. A great many of the regulations at present in force have been in force for many years.