§ 29. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in order to secure and extend the elementary education of England and Wales being free of fees, he will insert an Amendment in the Finance Bill and thus provide that the new Block Grant of 36s. a unit shall be given in full only to schools charging no fees, but shall be given in respect of fee schools subject to a deduction equal to the amount of the fees charged?
Mr. PEASEIf the Block Grant is calculated, as at present proposed, on the net expenditure of each authority, any fees received by the authority will reduce this sum, and therefore reduce the Block Grant to the extent of two-fifths of the amount so received. I do not think the matter can be dealt with in the way proposed by the hon. Member, but I am considering whether any amendment can be made to render the law relating to fees more satisfactory.