§ 96. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the new form of keeping the education accounts of local authorities for the year beginning 1st April, 1921, was not received by the authorities until 23rd December, 1921, and that the preparation of the accounts in the new form for the current year would require that all this year's entries should be analysed and dissected and would involve much labour and serious expense; whether he has received protests from the executive committee of the Association of Education Committees and from the Education I Committee of the County Councils 1143 Association; and whether, without prejudice to the question of the eventual adoption of the new form he will, in order to save the considerable labour and expense involved, give directions that the proposed new form shall not come into operation during the current year?
§ Major BARNSTON (for Sir Alfred Mond)The form referred to is not a form of keeping accounts, but a form for an annual return. The return is for the year ending on the 31st March, and local authorities are not required to recast their accounts for the past year. Further, the Board of Education will be prepared to accept returns for that year if they are as complete and accurate as the existing accounts will permit and to waive such of the details as cannot readily be given. In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not think it is necessary to postpone the use of the new form.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the recasting of the accounts which it is necessary to make involves great expense in the current year?