HC Deb 07 July 1938 vol 338 c578
50. Sir Percy Hurd

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the heavy cost of the equipment of the Defence forces and the fact that more public money is now being spent than ever before in our history upon education, the Board is calling upon local education authorities to defer all new expenditure that is not imperatively necessary?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)

The prospective raising of the school age and the completion of re-organisation of elementary schools are involving local education authorities in substantial expenditure, and there is no evidence that authorities, alive to their commitments in these respects, are embarking on extravagant or unnecessary expenditure. In these circumstances, my Noble Friend sees no occasion for issuing any communication of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend.

Sir P. Hurd

Has the Board of Education received representations from local education authorities, as, for instance, the borough of Hornsey and the county of Wilts, indicating that at this time of national emergency in regard to Defence, some curb should be put upon new expenditure?

Mr. Lindsay

I think some representations have been made to my Noble Friend in the course of the last six months.

Mr. Garro Jones

Has the borough of Hornsey ever previously made representations in respect of any other forms of excessive expenditure?

Mr. Lindsay

I should require notice of that question.

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