§ 15. Mr. MYERSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has informed local authorities that he does not intend to pay half the actual cost of the meals for necessitous children; and whether, seeing that is provided in the Education Act of 1921 that not less than 50 per cent. of the cost of grant earning services shall be paid by grants, and in view of the fact that the provisions of 1888 the Economy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, relieving him of this responsibility, have not been approved by Parliament, he will explain his reasons for anticipating the consent of Parliament?
§ Mr. FISHERI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 2nd August last to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne). I cannot accept his suggestion that, in assigning a limit of £300,000 to the expenditure of Local Education Authorities on the provision of meals, which they are prepared to recognise for grant the Board are exceeding their powers under Section 44 (2) of the Education Act, 1918.