51. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the difference between his estimate of£75,450,000 for cost to rates and taxes of education for 1922–23 and the estimate of the Geddes Report of£103,000,000 for the same year, the addition to his figures of£13,000,000 for Scotland, leaving a difference of£15,000,000 for which no explanation has so far been offered; and whether he has any statement to make?
§ Mr. FISHERThe estimate of£75,450,000 is the assumed total of the net expenditure of local education authorities in England and Wales, which will be met partly from rates and partly from taxes. The composition of this total and the assumptions on which it is based are explained on page 8 of the Memorandum on the Board of Education Estimates, 1922–23. The estimate of£103,000,000 is apparently an estimate, based on provisional forecasts, of the total educational expenditure from taxes and rates, whether included in the accounts of local education authorities or not.
Sir J. D. REESCould the right hon. Gentleman say, for the information of the public, what is to be the total expenditure up to the 31st March, 1923? That was what the House expected on the Education Estimate, and did not, I think, get.
§ Mr. FISHERI think I could give the hon. Baronet the amount now, but I hesitate to commit myself to the precise figure without notice.