§ 11. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it has yet been decided to make special grants per student to denominational training colleges; and, if so, what is the amount involved?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)My Noble Friend assumes that the hon. Member refers to the question of special financial assistance to meet the situation resulting from the further limitation of the number of students in training in 1934. As recently announced in Circular 1436, the board propose to pay an additional grant for the year 1934–35 to non-provided training colleges, other than the training departments of universities or university colleges, at the rate of £20 for each unit by which the approved number in 1934–35 of recognised students seeking a code qualification falls short of the corresponding number allowed by the board for 1933–34.
§ Mr. DAVIESWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to inform the House why the Board of Education in granting money draw this invidious distinction between non-provided training colleges and the other colleges?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe reason for the distinction is that the local education authority colleges are aided on a completely different basis and receive percentage grants.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs it not a fact, therefore, that this money is given to one set of training colleges and that the other colleges are at a financial disadvantage?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe local education authority colleges suffer no disadvantage at all under the system of percentage grants. The non-provided colleges will suffer some difficulty as the result of the limitation of the number of students, and this grant is given for one year to ease their position.