HC Deb 21 October 1943 vol 392 cc1509-10
40. Mr. Leach

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the nearest estimate of cost which would be added to Exchequer and local rate expenditure by the acceptance of full financial responsibility for non-provided schools?

The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler)

In the absence of information as to the annual expenditure of the managers of non-provided public elementary schools, it is not possible to give a precise answer to the Question. On the assumption, however, that the cost per child of loan charges and of repairs in the case of non-provided public elementary schools were the same as in the case of provided schools, I estimate that the additional annual cost to public funds resulting from the transfer of all the obligations of managers to local education authorities would be of the order of £2,850,000.

Mr. Leach

Does the Minister recognise that the whole of this money, which has to come out of private pockets, goes to build up our national educational system? Therefore, is it not unfair that private pockets should be called upon to defray such charges?

Mr. Butler

I wish the situation was quite as simple as the hon. Member makes out.