§ 16. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked whether the new Grant to local education authorities in necessitous school areas will be shared equally and upon the same terms by all local authorities whose education rate exceeds 1s. 6d.; and upon what system these Grants will be distributed?
Mr. PEASEIn addition to the sum of £350,000 for necessitous areas, which is at present on the Estimates of the Board, I shall have at my disposal a further sum of about £423,000, making a total of £773,000. All the authorities which have already participated in the Special Grant will receive at least the same amounts as they received last year, and those which are the most heavily rated will receive additional amounts. The authorities which have not previously participated, and whose expenditure in 1912–13 exceeded the produce of a rate of 1s. 6d., will receive a Grant of one-half of that excess.
§ Mr. YEOCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us if London will receive any share of the Grant mentioned this afternoon?
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Grants which were cut down last year owing to there not being enough money to go round will be put on the full basis or the cut down basis?
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask whether when a Grant was last given London did not get a share as it was not recognised as a necessitous school area?
Mr. PEASEIn reply to the hon. Member for Poplar I have to state that London in the year 1912–13 became a necessitous area so far as it could be gauged by having an education rate exceeding 1s. 6d. in the £. The figures are based on the year 1912–13, and the London County Council with thirty-three other authorities with rates exceeding 1s. 6d. will come under the provision for this year for the added money. The London County Council will participate with the other thirty-three authorities. I think that also answers the question of the hon. Member for Colchester.
§ Mr. THORNEMay I ask whether it means that in addition to the £300,000 already granted London will get £200,000?
Mr. PEASEThe London County Council will get £200,000 out of the total of £773,000 given for the whole of England and Wales.