22. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Education what is estimated to be the total expenditure on education from taxes, rates, and any other source whatsoever, distinguishing private from public sources, in the year ending 31st March, 1923?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)I have no means of answering this question. Particulars of the estimated ex- 1778 penditure from public funds, so far as it falls within the purview of the Board of Education, are given in Command Paper 1,638.
Sir J. D. REESWill it not be possible for my right hon. Friend, as Minister of Education, to depart somewhat from precedent and give the total cost of education, to the rates and taxes, at any rate.
§ Mr. FISHERTo the rates and taxes, certainly. All that information was given in Command Paper 1,638. I cannot give the figure for public schools and private institutions, of which I have no return.
Sir J. D. REESDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that he was unable to explain the discrepancy between the total figure, to which he refers me, and the £103,000,000 of the Geddes Report?
§ Mr. FISHERI am able to explain that discrepancy, if the hon. Baronet will put a question on the Paper. He asked me in Debate for a figure which contains the Scottish Estimates. We were not discussing Scottish Estimates at the time, and I was therefore unable to give the hon. Baronet the information.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why the hon. Baronet is always putting these embarrassing questions about the cost of education?