§ 19. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total value of economies proposed by local education authorities in the past year; what this amount is expressed as a percentage of total expenditure on education; and whether he is satisfied with the results of the economy campaign.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe economies proposed by education authorities for their financial year 1952–53 amount to about £290,000, which represents approximately 0.7 per cent. of their estimated expenditure. I regard these proposals for the current year as acceptable, but the need for economy will continue, as the authorities, I am sure, recognise; and their estimates for next year should be framed and will be examined with this in view.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes not that figure show how near to the bone local education authorities are working? Do not that figure and the fact that new school buildings last year amounted to £2 million less than in 1951, taken together, represent an outrageous attack on the educational system, for which the right hon. Gentleman is being attacked by the Tory Press in Scotland?
§ Mr. StuartThe figure of 0.7 is not a very vicious attack. We shall do our best to maintain an efficient service.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill the right hon. Gentleman look into some of these economies, for they seem to be false? For instance, it is no economy, in Edinburgh or elsewhere, to have painters wandering the streets, idle, in winter-time and schools not being painted, because what is saved on education is lost at the employment exchange.
§ Mr. StuartI certainly agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said. Points such as that require careful investigation.