§ 20. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Education if it is proposed to act on the suggestion of the Committee on National Expenditure, in paragraph 503 of their report, that all educational functions should be concentrated, as far as local 'authorities were concerned, in the hands of county and county borough councils, and to carry out also the suggestion, in paragraph 503 of the report, that county and county borough councils should take overthe responsibility for supervising and helping private educational effort in their areas; and what 1004 national and local economies would be made by accepting these suggestions?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Donald Maclean)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I have not been furnished with any information on this point which may have been in the possession of the committee.
§ Mr. EDEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the May Committee themselves said, in the paragraph quoted, that they put this first among the efficiencies that should be secured? Do we understand that the right hon. Gentleman does not desire efficiency, but only economy, at the Board?
§ Sir D. MACLEANThe answer is as I have given it. The answer is in the negative.