44. Major HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that, owing to the reduction in the Scottish Education Fund Grants payable to secondary education committees, many of these committees have been unable to pay during the past year more than half the usual Grants under Section 17 (9) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, in aid of the teaching staff in small schools; and, in view of the fact that the residue Grant under Section 17 (11) has entirely disappeared, will he say what steps he proposes to take to make good this loss to 1289 Scottish schools in general and to small schools in particular during the past financial year?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on Tuesday to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth.
Major HOPEDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to make good the loss which has been caused in the course of the last two years?