§ 10. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for removing the financial responsibility for some sections of the educational service from the shoulders of the ratepayers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DiamondI have no further plans in relation to Local Government finance in advance of the report of the Royal Commission.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my right hon. Friend realise that we on this side expect a substantial increase in expenditure on education during the next few years due to a considerable advance in all spheres, and that it will get to something beyond any amount which can be raised by the rate revenue?
§ Mr. DiamondMy hon. Friend is as fully aware as I am of the increase in the size of the child population and the need, therefore, for increased expenditure on education.
§ Mr. Frederic HarrisDoes the right hon. Gentleman not remember that at the last two General Elections there were guarantees that the large proportion of the salaries of teachers would be removed from the shoulders of the ratepayer on to the taxpayer? What is happening about those promises?
§ Mr. DiamondWe have gone much further than that and done something much more radical than merely transferring that part of teachers' salaries which is not already carried on central Government finance.