§ 33. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the President of the Board of Education whether his department will refrain from pressing the different local authorities to carry out all statutory duties imposed upon them which these local authorities may consider might usefully be postponed in view of the economic situation of the country?
§ Sir D. MACLEANObviously in my dealings with local education authorities I cannot ignore statutory requirements; but there is generally a considerable element of discretion in questions involving new expediture, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am not in present circumstances pressing authorities in such matters except in cases of clear need.
§ 41. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Health whether his department will refrain from pressing the 532 different local authorities to carry out all statutory duties imposed upon them which these local authorities may consider might usefully be postponed in view of the economic situation of the country?
Sir H. YOUNGThe reduction of local expenditure was dealt with in a circular issued last September, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The action of my Department is in accordance with the principles laid down in that circular, which whilst deprecating a wholesale course of cutting down expenditure whatever be its purpose, requires the careful scrutiny of the whole field of expenditure made necessary by the financial situation.