§ 56. Miss WILKINSON (for Miss LAWRENCE)asked the President of the Board of Education the list of education authorities receiving the education grant for necessitous areas which will lose that grant as a consequence of revaluation under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925?
Duchess of ATHOLLUntil my right hon. Friend has before him the assessments as on the 1st April, 1929, it is not possible to say in what way those education authorities who are in receipt of grant as necessitous areas will be affected. My right hon. Friend proposes, when the figures are known, to alter the regulations in order to provide that, approximately, the same amount of money as at present will be distributed in necessitous area grant for the coming financial year.
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I ask whether the hon. lady does not think, in view of the great distress in these areas, that a larger grant is necessary in the coming year?
§ Mr. MACKINDEROn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Did you call Question 51?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes, I called Question 51.
§ Sir R. THOMASMay I ask Question No. 22 addressed to the Minister of Agriculture.
§ Miss WILKINSONI am very sorry to interrupt hon. Members, but they have rather interrupted my question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIn the middle of a question, we must not go to another question on the Paper.
Duchess of ATHOLLThe question put by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough East (Miss Wilkinson) is rather difficult to answer without consideration.
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I ask whether in view of the distress in the mining areas the hon. Member will take the matter into serious consideration before the amount of the grant is finally fixed?
Duchess of ATHOLLMy noble Friend the President of the Board of Education may be relied upon to give consideration to all these matters, not only in connection with the mining areas, but all areas in the country where distress prevails.