§ Mr. CAIRNSasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the education committees complaining about the action of the Board of Education in withholding grants authorised by Parliament, such as grants to scholars in central schools, also in respect to grants to send children to courses in secondary schools, also refusing to provide grants for children in public elementary schools between 14 years and 16 years of age, also to give to holders of such scholarship allowances for maintenance; and, if so, will he restore such grants?
§ Mr. FISHERI presume the hon. Member is referring to Circular 1,238, which states that new expenditure on maintenance allowances for children in attendance at public elementary schools, whether central schools or ordinary schools, cannot, be recognised for grant, and to Circular 1,243, which warned authorities not to incur fresh commitments on maintenance allowances for children attending places of higher education pending the issue of the. Regulations for 1922–23. Subject to observance of the over-riding limitations on the expenditure which can be recognised for grant for elementary education, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer now concurs in the withdrawal of Circular 1,238 and the recognition of expenditure in 1922–23, not exceeding in the total that of 1921–22, in respect of children over 14 years of age on certain new conditions which will be embodied in the Regulations, and, subject to the same over-riding limitation as regards expenditure for higher education, new expenditure for the purpose mentioned in Circular 1,243 can also be recognised for grant.