27. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that many local education authorities framed their estimates for the current financial year on the understanding that the Board would continue to contribute 50 per cent. of their approved expenditure under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, he will suspend the enforcement of Circular No. 1,285 until the end of the current financial year and so prevent an additional burden being placed without due notice upon the ratepayers which has previously been borne by the State?
Mr. WOODI think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the meaning of the Circular referred to. The words "whether within the scope of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, or not "in the last paragraph of that Circular refer not to expenditure but. to teachers. The only expenditure incurred by local education authorities under that Act is expenditure on administration, and such expenditure is recognised for the purposes of calculation of grant.