§ 61. Mr. BOLANDasked the President of the Board of Education whether any and, if so, what Grants directly coming from the Exchequer in aid of education in England and Wales have been reduced during the past year; and can he state what is the amount of the reduction in each case?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. H. Lewis)The accounts which show the actual expenditure on Grants are made up for years ending 31st March, and the last figures available are those for the year ending 31st March, 1915. There was no decrease in the aggregate amount of the Grants paid in 1914–15 as compared with 1913–14; but there was an automatic shrinkage in the Grants paid under certain headings, and no building Grants were made to training colleges to which the Board were not already committed. The Estimates for 1915–16 showed an aggregate increase, but a further shrinkage under certain heads was allowed for, the strict limitation of building Grants was continued, and the purchase Grants for the Museum, amounting to about £14,000, were suspended. I will furnish the hon. Member with further particulars if he desires.
§ Mr. BOLANDDo I understand that there has been no reduction in strictly educational Grants during the past year in the case of England and Wales?
§ Mr. LEWISThere has been no reduction in the rate of Grants. To reduce the rate of Grants would be to commit a breach of faith with the local education authorities.
§ Mr. BOLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman convey that reply to the right hon. Gentleman who represents the Irish Department of Agriculture in this House?
§ 62. Mr. BOLANDasked the Secretary for Scotland whether any, and, if so, what, Grants directly coming from the Exchequer in aid of education in Scotland have been reduced during the past year; and can he state what is the amount of the reduction in each case?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND(Mr. McKinnon Wood)My hon. Friend will find in Class IV., Vote 10, of the Civil Service Estimates the statistics of estimated expenditure for this year and of actual expenditure for last year, with the increases and decreases shown in the usual way. I may add that the special Grant of £4,139 in respect of defective children voted in 1914–15 was required in that year only for the purpose of making good an exceptional deficiency in the ordinary Grants, and nothing was voted under this head in 1915–16. The usual Grant-in-Aid of £2,600 for purchase of specimens, books, etc., for the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, has been suspended during the War.
§ Mr. BOLANDDo I understand that in the case of Scotland also there has been no reduction in strictly educational Grants?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThat must be ascertained by looking at the Estimates. It is not a question that I can answer in the form of a reply. These Grants vary up and down in different years.
§ Colonel YATEAre there Grants in Scotland for the teaching of Gaelic as there are in Ireland for the teaching of Irish?
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not the case that Scotland has had its Grants reduced more than any other part of the United Kingdom?