§ 15. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the figures of the recent Census entirely disprove the contention that the declining birth-rate is not compensated by reduced infant mortality; and whether, in view of this fact, he will withdraw the present Estimates and propose others based on correct figures?
Mr. PEASEI have seen no figures of the recent Census which tend to show that I have underestimated the number of children in respect of whose attendance at public elementary schools Grants will fall due in the financial year 1913–14; but, on the contrary, since those Estimates were framed I have received further Returns, showing that the slight diminution in the number of children which was noticed last year has still continued. With regard to the relation between the decline in the birth-rate and in the death-rate as bearing upon the matter, I may point out that the schools feel the whole brunt of the fall in the birth-rate, but only experience a share in the counterbalancing gain arising from the fall in the death-rate.
§ Mr. KINGDid the right hon. Gentleman approach the Registrar-General for advance figures of the Census in this connection?
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the diminution in the West of England is far more serious this year than it was last?