§ 69. Major NATHANasked the President of the Board of Education the aggregate sum by which he estimates local rates will be increased by reason of the proposed maintenance grants under the projected Education Bill?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe proportion of the expenditure on the proposed maintenance allowances to be met from the rates is estimated at £1,200,000 for the first full year. For a fuller statement I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the financial memorandum attached to the Bill.
70. Miss LEEasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the assumed means test which, if removed, would add, approximately, £2,000,000 to the cost of the proposed children's allowances for the first school year on the raising of the school age?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe estimated cost of the proposed maintenance allowances, given in the financial memorandum to the Education (School Attendance) Bill, was based not on any particular means test, but on various calculations as to the number of children likely to qualify for maintenance allowances under any reasonably elastic system. As explained in the memorandum, the cost is not yet susceptible of close estimation.
Miss LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman supply the figures of the respective authorities on which this calculation is based?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANNo, I cannot do that. They are necessarily uncertain estimates.
Miss LEEHow could a definite figure of approximately £2,000,000 be arrived at if the Estimates are uncertain, and will the right hon. Gentleman consider letting us know the basis of his calculations?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANIt is an estimate on approximate and not definite figures.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNWill not the right hon. Baronet reconsider his previous answer? Surely it is important for the whole House to know on what basis these figures are arrived at before the Debate takes places. Surely there ought to be nothing secret about the method of calculation.
§ Sir C. TREVELYANWhen the system of maintenance allowances has been settled, it will be possible to make a closer estimate.
§ Mr. BROWNIf the basis of calculation has not been settled, what is the use of the figure of £2,000,000?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANIt is a general estimate. It cannot be an exact calculation. It is calculated on what the allowances would be under any reasonably elastic system.
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the right hon. Baronet give us the estimated figures under the reasonably elastic system and tell us what the reasonably elastic system is?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe figures are what the hon. Member gets by looking at the Bill.
§ 71. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to make a further statement concerning the means test relating to the maintenance allowances for children in connection with the Government's proposals to raise the school-leaving age?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANNo, Sir; I am not yet able to make any further statement.
§ Sir K. WOODIs there any change in the Government's plans in this connection, or are they still determined to go on with this means test?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe right hon. Gentleman asks me that every week. I shall be very glad to give him private information when there is going to be any change so that he need not ask me again.