54. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether the substantive grants to local education authorities for the current year for elementary schools will be paid on exactly the same basis as last year, namely, under the formula which provides that the amount shall be calculated at 36s. for each unit of average attendance, plus three-fifths of teachers' approved salaries, plus one-half of net approved expenditure on special services (special schools, medical inspection, provision of meals), plus one-fifth of all other net approved expenditure (loan charges, administration, school maintenance and management), less the produce of a rate of 7d. in the £, subject to the amount of 2369 expenditure on special services, administration, and other similar purposes being kept within the limits specified in Command Paper 1638.
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 9th May, and to the recently issued draft Regulations for Substantive Grant for Elementary Education for the year 1922–23.
Mr. THOMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer to which he refers does not give the information for which this question asks, and could he tell local education authorities on what basis the variation in the formula will be made in cases in which the expenditure exceeds the amount specified in the White Paper?
§ Mr. FISHERI referred the hon. Member not only to the answer which I gave him on the 9th May but also to the Regulations on the subject of grants. I do not know whether he has referred to the Regulations.
Mr. THOMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that those Regulations do not show how the variation will be made if this expenditure is exceeded?
§ Mr. FISHERI hope to be able to give information to the local authorities as soon as the particulars are in my possession.