§ Mr. Crowderasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that various local authorities consider that increased contributions might properly be required from parents of children who are sent to approved schools; and whether his Department is requesting or intends to request larger contributions by local authorities towards the cost of keeping children in such schools?
§ Sir S. HoareWithin the prescribed limit of 23s. a court has power to require the parent of a child in an approved school to contribute such weekly sum towards his maintenance as, having regard to the means of the parent, it thinks fit. It is open to any local authority responsible for the maintenance of the child to make representations to the court at the hearing as to the amount of the parental contribution, and such representations would certainly be taken into consideration. As regards the second part of the question, it became necessary in January last, owing to unavoidable increase of expenditure, to raise the flat rate contribution payable by local authorities from 15s. to 17s. a week, I cannot forecast what the figure may be in future years.