§ 25. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will make representations to the Carmarthenshire County Council to abolish the differential education rate which they levy, inasmuch as it is the only education authority that persists in retaining this method of rating for educational purposes and in view of the fact that this differential rate presses most heavily on the depressed areas within the county?
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Oliver Stanley)The Board have drawn the attention of this authority, on more than one occasion in recent years, to the prejudicial effect on educational developments in their area of the policy of charging capital expenditure on localities which cannot afford the additional cost. The matter is, however, entirely one within the discretion of the county council under Section 122 of the Education Act, 1921, and they have not so far been willing to make any change. I am afraid that I can see no grounds for thinking that further representations from me at the present time would serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. GriffithsWill the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the effect, not only educationally but industrially, of this rate, consider the possibility of renewing his representations to this authority?
§ Mr. StanleyI think that the possibility of renewing my representations depends more on the chance of their being 328 successful than anything else. I have already said that I should like to see them accepted.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that if he renewed his representations now they would stand a better chance of success than they did last time?