§ 10. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that local education authorities, especially in rural counties, have expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Bill, under which provision will have to be made for boarding and instructing all such children within their area at considerable additional cost to local ratepayers, that they have no existing machinery for this purpose, and that they resent the proposal to fine them for failure to comply with the Board's requirements under the Bill; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government propose to proceed with the Bill?
Mr. PEASEI have been in communication with representatives of the County Councils Association, and on the Committee stage I am prepared to fully meet all the points to which they have called my attention, including the one to fine them. Under these circumstances, and as there is a substantial increase of the Government Grant offered, I trust the Bill may now be regarded as uncontroversial and allowed to pass this Session.