§ 57. Lieut.-Colonel WHELERasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the executive of the Association of Education Committees and also the County Councils' Association both consider that the Education Accounts (Annual Statement) Order, 1921, should be withdrawn; and, if so, why does the Board oppose these bodies, which will have to bear the cost of the preparation of the Return as required by the Order?
§ Mr. FISHERI am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of an answer which I gave on the 1st May, 1922, to the hon. and gallant Member for the Moss Side Division of Manchester (Lieut.-Colonel Hurst). I have nothing to add to that answer.
§ Lieut.-Colonel WHELERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the form requires the receipts submitted on this form to be under 67 different headings, and the expenses under 210 different headings, and will he, bearing in mind the additional clerks that are rendered necessary and the opposition of the local authorities, do away with this unnecessary expenditure?
§ Mr. FISHERThe object of the revised form was to secure greater economy, and I have no doubt that it will enable very much greater economy to be secured than is now possible. It is true that the local education committees will have to employ a few more clerks, but when the new form is once established I think that the expenditure will be reduced to a minimum, and that a very large economy will result.