§ 34. Dr. Kingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the discussions now taking place over the new block grant proposals, he will publish a summary of the Report of the Meston Committee, 1922, on Exchequer grants.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe Committee made no report.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Departmental Committee was set up by the Board of Education when the notorious Geddes Committee was attempting crippling economies in education; that it considered very carefully the whole matter of the percentage grant system and—although its report was never published—that its findings would be extremely valuable to local authorities and this House, now that we are considering the Government's proposals to replace the percentage grant system by the block grant system?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI rather doubt whether we could form any useful judgments about a Committee which did not report in 1922. I think that we must address our minds to this matter afresh.