33 and 35. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education (1), if the means test for parents whose children are affected by the compulsory raising of the school age will be on the same lines as the present means test for old age pensions;
(2), if the maintenance grants for school children up to the limit of 5s. weekly will be the same in urban and rural districts?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Charles Trevelyan)I will answer these two questions together by referring the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 23rd January.
Dr. DAVIESI am not asking the same question in No. 35 as in No. 33. In No. 35 I ask whether the maintenance grants for school children will be the same in urban and rural districts.
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am afraid that the answer is the same, that I cannot say anything until I have had advice.
§ Mr. COVEWill the regulations be national in scope and application, or will they vary at all in the localities?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI cannot say anything until I have had the report.
34. Dr. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education if he proposes to take powers to compel such local education authorities as refuse to do so voluntarily to contribute their quota of 40 per cent. towards maintenance grants for school children?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe Bill which I have introduced provides that it shall be the duty of local education authorities to take the necessary action in this matter, and the Board's grants to an authority are, of course, conditional on the authority performing its statutory duties.
Dr. DAVIESDo we understand that local education authorities, which have passed resolutions objecting to the compulsory raising of the school age, will be forced to pay their quota of 40 per cent. whether they like it or not?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThey will have to do whatever Parliament decrees.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that local authorities consider that the Government grant is totally inadequate?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI know that there are a good many local authorities that would like to have it higher.