HC Deb 09 June 1932 vol 266 cc2091-2
18. Mr. HANLEY

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can give the latest figure of the amount of the economies effected by his Department, disregarding those resulting from the Economy Act, 1931, since he took office?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)

It is not yet possible to say what will be the full financial effect of the economies carried out by the local education authorities and the Board of Education in recent months. In the day to day administration of the Board a close scrutiny is made of every proposal for new expenditure and the economies resulting from this process, while not capable of accurate assessment, are very considerable; but, apart from these and from the savings resulting from the Economy Act, 1931, the Board's Estimates for the current year provide for a reduction under other heads of £258,377 as compared with the previous year. The position is fully set out in paragraph 4 of the Memorandum on the Board's Estimates.

Mr. HANLEY

Will the hon. Gentleman reduce the medical staff from 21 to 11, which was its strength before the War, in view of the fact that there are fewer children on the register?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of that question.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why this reduction is such a very small percentage?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I did not quite catch the hon. Member's question.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that a reduction of £250,000 in £50,000,000 is worth talking about?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

The hon. Gentleman must realise that these economies are going on from day to day and it is not possible to state what the full amount will be in a year, but he may be interested to know that, from October, 1931, to May, 1932, the Board sanctioned, for all purposes, £7,250,000 less capital expenditure than in the corresponding months of the previous year, and that, in itself, involves an approximate annual saving in loan charges of about £435,000, to rates and taxes, in eight months.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Hay I now repeat the question which the hon. Gentleman did not hear?

Mr. SPEAKER

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is too late.