HC Deb 06 August 1925 vol 187 cc1524-5
13. Sir HENRY CRAIK

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that the publication of the volumes containing statistics of public education, with full educational and financial information, has been discontinued, as well as the publication of a volume subsequently issued under the heading, Receipts and Expenditure of Local Education Authorities, he will say where the information therein given can now be obtained?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)

My right hon. Friend oppears to be under a misapprehension. The issue of statistics of public education was resumed after the War, but, in the interests of economy, a single volume is issued containing both the purely educational and summary financial tables. I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to Part II of the Board's last statistical volume, particularly Tables 172 and 173. A new volume is about to be issued.

Sir H. CRAIK

Up to what date will the volume go?

Lord E. PERCY

I am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.

Sir H. CRAIK

Is the noble Lord aware that the returns do not give the information necessary; that they are not up to date?

Lord E. PERCY

I should be very glad to do my best to keep them up to date, but my right hon. Friend must remember that keeping statistics up to date means expenditure.

Sir H. CRAIK

Would it not be better that that small extra expenditure should be incurred rather than that there should be waste?

Mr. BASIL PETO

Would it not be better to have fewer statistics, up to date statistics, and less expense?