§ 54. Mr. HOLLINSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the simplification of the present grant formula for grants to local education authorities for primary, secondary, and technical education; whether he will substitute some other form of calculation for that part of the formula which reduces the grant by the amount of a 7d. rate; and is he aware that the operation of this formula places local education committees in a difficult position when making their yearly estimates?
Mr. STANLEYI understand the hon. Member's question to refer to the grant formula for elementary education as the grant on secondary and technical education is at a flat rate of 50 per cent. I have had the question of revising the formula for elementary education before me, but I have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to gain some experience of the working of the Government's proposals for educational reform before considering whether any change in the grant formula should be made.
§ Mr. E. J. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that in consequence of the enormous fall in the number of the child population, particularly of the distressed areas, this formula is affecting the education rate, for example in places like Glamorgan and Monmouth?
Mr. STANLEYIt is rather a difficult question. As the hon. Member knows, the depressed areas are assisted over and above the ordinary educational grant.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSOur education rate has increased by Is. 6d. in the £ this year, owing to the fall in population.