Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention 858W has been drawn to the Minute of the Committee of Council on Education in Scotland, dated 22nd April, 1921, by which provision is made for the distribution of grants to education authorities from the Education Fund on the basis of a flat rate; whether he is aware that in such payments no account is taken of any money expended on food, clothing, and medical treatment of necessitous children, nursery and hostel schools, play centres and games for children in slum districts, and special classes for mentally defective children; and why these forms of expenditure have been excluded from the grants?
§ Mr. MUNROAs I am responsible for the Minute in question, I am naturally familiar with its terms. The answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's question is, therefore, in the affirmative. To have taken account of these or any other special forms of expenditure would have involved a departure from the fundamental principles of the Minute, which have been generally approved by the Association of Education Authorities.