§ 20. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the total over-all cost of secondary education under public control in England and Wales and Scotland for the 12 months nearest to 1930ဣ31; and the aggregate amount provided towards it by taxes and by rates?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herwald Ramsbotham)The expenditure from public funds on secondary schools in England and Wales in the year 1930–31 amounted to £8,781,566, of which £4,647,236 was met from taxes and £4,134,330 from rates. As regards Scottish education, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes not the hon. Gentleman regard this as a very sound investment?
§ 21. Sir A. M. SAMUELasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will compare the figures of 1912–13 with 1930–31, or nearest dates, and state the four principal items of expenditure which have caused the annual charge on the taxpayer and ratepayer per pupil in secondary schools to rise from £9 4s. to £22?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe expenditure per pupil in secondary schools maintained by local education authorities in 1930 exceeded that for the year 1912 by £14 16s. against which has to be set an increased income from fees averaging £2 per pupil, making a net increase of £12 16s. The gross increase of £14 16s. is made up as to £10 1s. of expenditure on teachers' salaries, as to £l of contributions in respect of teachers' superannuation, and as to £3 15s. of other 1245 expenses of maintenance. These include rent, rates, taxes, insurance, fuel, light, cleaning, books, apparatus and stationery, repairs to buildings and furniture.