§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the shortage of funds towards the equipment grants for ordinary primary schools to fit them for the teaching of practical work, as also for an intermediate curriculum for specialised pupils, 806 can he hold out any hope which would enable school boards to realise the prospect of half grants, held out in Section 17 (8), especially as many boards have embarked on new schemes solely in the belief that such grants would be available?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe "equipment grants," referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, seem to be identical with the grants under Section 17 (8), referred to in the second part. Speaking generally, I can only express my regret that, short of an addition by the Treasury to the total amount annually paid into the Education (Scotland) Fund, there appears to be nothing that would justify the Secondary Education Committees in proposing, or the Department in approving, such a measure of liberality in connection with these grants as would bring them appreciably nearer to the maximum of one-half, which is sanctioned by the Statute.