§ 24. Mr. McENTEEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the assessable value per scholar in Hornsey is £105 and in Hendon £103, whilst in the neighbouring district of Walthamstow it is only £24; that whereas a 1d. rate in Hornsey produces 7s. 10d. per child in average attendance in the schools, a 1d. rate in Walthamstow only produces 1s. 11d. per child; that in 1914–15 the grant made to Walthamstow, as a highly rated area, amounted to over £31,000, whereas in 1920–21 it had been reduced to less than £14,000, although 703 the financial condition of the town is now much worse than in the first-named period; that, as a consequence of the low assessable value of the town, efficient education can only be provided by imposing crippling rates on the citizens; and whether, in view of the very serious hardship that is being caused by these conditions, he will give a more sympathetic consideration to Walthamstow, and other districts in a,similar financial condition, when the grants to highly rated areas are under consideration in his Department?
Mr. WOODThe figures as to assessable value and value of ld. rate per child are substantially correct. The comparison between the grants given to Walthamstow in 1914–15 and in 1920–21 is misleading; the total grant contained a greater allowance for the poverty and high rating of Walthamstow in 1920–21 than in 1914–15. The high rating of Walthamstow and other areas is receiving my sympathetic consideration in connection with the Regulations which will shortly be issued.
§ Mr. McENTEEWill the hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of again reducing the sum, above which Grant is made from 48 pence to 40 pence?
Mr. WOODYes. I have that matter at the present moment under consideration, and hope to be able to make a move in that direction.