§ 29. Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total expenditure in education in Scotland for the year 1928–29; and in what proportions has the expenditure been met by Government grants and the rates, respectively?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Johnston)The total revenue expenditure of education authorities in Scotland in the year ended 15th May, 1929, was £12,049,514. The contributions from Government grants and from rates were £6,505,527 and £5,322,899, respectively, the balance of £221,088 being met from sources of local income other than rates.
Miss LEEOn account of the intolerable burden of rates in Scotland, does the hon. Gentleman not think it would be better to transfer the cost to national taxation?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONI think that supplementary question is not one which really arises out of the question.
§ 30. Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the report of the Committee of Council on Education in Scotland for 1929–30, just issued, contains, for the first time, the announcement that 60 per cent. of the girls and boys sent forth from the day schools have failed in various degrees to reach the normal goal in education; what is the explanation of this result; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative except that the feature in question has been discussed in previous reports. The matter cannot be adequately dealt with within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary question, and I would ask the hon. Member to be good enough to refer to what is said on this subject on pages 20 and 21 of the report of the Committee of Council on Education in Scotland, on page 12 of the general reports for the year 1928–29 on Education in Scotland by His Majesty's Chief Inspectors of Schools, and on page 11 of the corresponding reports for 1927–28. As stated in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member's question of 6th June, there has been a substantial improvement of recent years in the standard of attainment reached by pupils who leave school and it is anticipated that this improvement will steadily continue.
§ 31. Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in 1928–29 no fewer than 11,530 pupils left primary schools or departments without any records of their attainments being kept and without being enrolled in other schools or without being traced; and whether he will cause steps to be taken for tracing such pupils and ensuring their continued attendance at school?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe figure quoted by the hon. Member is based upon statistical returns made by the education authorities each for its own area. It is not, however, correct to say that there is no record of the attainments of the pupils in questions. The school records contain this information though it is not reduced to statistical form. The figure mentioned includes a considerable number of pupils whose attendance ceased through unavoidable causes such as death and emigration. The remainder consists of pupils who have removed to other districts. While the whereabouts of these pupils are not known to the authorities of the schools making the return, there is no reason to suppose that they are not continuing their education in the districts to which they have removed. The enforcement of the law relating to school attendance is constantly engaging the attention of the Department and my 960 right hon. Friend is satisfied that education authorities in general are fully alive to their responsibilities in this matter.