§ 61. Mr. Hopkinasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what will be the basis upon which the cost of the education of unofficial evacuee children who are in attendance at public elementary schools and secondary schools shall be met, as between the local education authorities of the evacuating and receiving areas; and has he prepared a general scheme, or is it proposed that this settlement be arranged by mutual agreement between the two local education authorities concerned?
Mr. LindsayThe arrangements made by the Board with regard to the incidence of cost of the education of evacuated children relate solely to children evacuated under the Government scheme. In the case of children transferred from one area to another otherwise than under that scheme, the duty of providing elementary education falls on the authority of the area to which they are transferred. The position in regard to secondary school children must be left to settlement by the authorities concerned, in the light of the circumstances of each case.
§ Mr. A. ReedIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in some places these unofficial evacuees amount to something like 40 per cent. of the total of evacuated children, and that these children come down with their parents destitute and have to be relieved, and is it fair that these authorities should have to pay the total cost of their education?
§ Mr. LipsonMayI ask whether the attendance of unofficial evacuated children will not rank for grant for the benefit of the authority into whose area they go?
§ Sir J. NallIs the Department considering the necessity of requiring the evacuating authorities to reimburse the reception authorities, and does my hon. Friend realise that these reception authorities cannot bear the additional expense?
§ Mr. A. ReedCan the hon. Gentleman reconsider this question, which is of great importance.