§ 30. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the interests of economy, he will arrange to reduce the Parliamentary grants towards the cost of education in Scotland to the level which prevails in England and Wales?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)Under the arrangement embodied in Section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, the grants voted by Parliament in aid 1277 of educational expenditure in Scotland are automatically reduced in relation to economies made in England and Wales.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThat is not an answer to the question I asked. I want to know whether the Government will put the grants for Scottish education on the same basis as for British education, or am I to understand that it requires 25 per cent. more money in Scotland to produce the same results as are produced in England?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat question should be put down on the Paper.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIt is down.
§ Mr. SKELTONThe question which my hon. Friend asks is not that which is on the Paper. In any case, I could not answer it now, because a general discussion on the financial relations between England and Scotland for educational purposes is hardly possible in Question Time.
§ Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODDoes the hon. Gentleman think that it is satisfactory that Scotland should not be allowed to spend as much as she likes on her own education?