§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what steps he is taking to meet the difficulties which many direct-grant secondary schools are suffering owing to the drop in numbers consequent on evacuation and to the need for incurring special expenditure on air-raid precautions and other item; of an exceptional character?
Mr. LindsayYes, Sir, I am aware of these difficulties and provision is being made for some additional grant in the current year to help schools in meeting them. At the same time I would point out that local education authorities have the power to defray the cost of air-raid precautions for direct grant schools in all types of area and their approved expenditure will rank for the normal grant of 50 per cent. from the Board. This arrangement was made after consultation with representatives of the authorities as well as the schools and I earnestly hope that authorities will exercise this power to the fullest extent.