HC Deb 17 December 1925 vol 189 cc1620-2
66. Mr. BECKETT

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that Circular 1371 will add 6d. to the rates in Gateshead unless educational developments urged by his Department are to be sacrificed; that the ratable value and the standard of educational equipment are much below the average; and whether, in view of these facts, he is prepared to give special consideration to the Gateshead Education Committee?

67. Mr. LAWSON

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the director of education for Durham to the effect that, as a result of the operation of conditions laid down in Circular 1371, the whole cost of the new secondary school at Houghton-le-Spring, amounting to £35,000, as well as the £10,000 a year for maintenance will fall entirely upon the county; and will he consent to withdraw the particular Circular?

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

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given by me on 10th December to the hon. Members for West Leeds (Mr. Stamford), East Bristol (Mr. W. Baker), and Middlesbrough (Miss Wilkinson), copies of which I am sending them.

Mr. LAWSON

Does the Noble Lord accept the truth of the statement made by the director of education for Durham?

Lord E. PERCY

I do not know whether it was made by the director of education for Durham, tout I said in the answer to which I referred the hon. Member that I cannot accept without investigation any figures of this kind put before me.

Mr. BECKETT

Would the Noble Lord give me an answer to the last part of my question, which he could not possibly have answered previously?

Lord E. PERCY

I am prepared to give consideration to every local authority, but the hon. Member will not expect me to give special consideration to Gates-head.

Mr. LAWSON

Does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to accept figures given by the director of education for Durham, an old experienced director and an ex-Government inspector, who certainly knows what he is talking about when he makes a statement of this kind?

Lord E. PERCY

In reply to a supplementary question the other day I said I was not going to be sidetracked into any controversy with directors of education or local authorities. It is common knowledge that the forecasts of expenditure of local authorities at this time of the year have always for many years past been considerably over-estimated. There are many factors to be taken into consideration besides one particular item as to the cost of a particular branch, and I really cannot enter into a discussion of local authorities' estimates this month.

Mr. LAWSON

Does not the Noble Lord see that the statement made by the director of education is that the £35,000 has been spent since 31st March?

Mr. SPEAKER

We shall learn more about that later.