56. Major HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in consequence of the statement on the 6th instant by the President of the Board of Education at the conference of the Association of Education Committees that the Grant for mentally defective children educable in special classes or schools would be increased from £4 4s. to £6 and also that for residential schools more substantial Grants would be forthcoming, and having regard to the fact that even originally the Mental Deficiency Bills would have imposed a proportionately heavier financial burden on Scottish than on English local education authorities, he has any similar announcement to make on behalf of the Scottish Education Department?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)Yes, Sir. The matter has not escaped my attention, and is under consideration.
Major HOPECan the right hon. Gentleman state whether there will be an equivalent Grant for Scotland in proportion to the extra Grant to England?
§ Mr. WHYTESeeing that he was unable to state the number of defectives who would probably come under the Bill, on what basis can the right hon. Gentleman make appeal to the Treasury for money for Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI do not think I can answer that question. The circumstances in relation to Scotland are being considered.