§ 130. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Education why she certified as urgent the operation of the Education (Local Education Authorities) Grant Provisional Amending Regulations, dated 17th January, 1946; and why these regulations were not made earlier so that they could come into operation in the normal course;.
§ Mr. HardmanThe decision as to the rate of grant to be paid to local education authorities on the removal of school air raid shelters had to await the conclusion of negotiations which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary was conducting with local authorities on the general question of 97W grant for the removal of public air raid shelters. It was not possible to arrive at this decision until towards the end of last year. The Amending Regulations referred to by the hon. Member, which provide for 100 per cent. grant on the net expenditure of local education authorities for this purpose, necessarily had to have retrospective effect so as to apply to the expenditure of those authorities which had taken early action in the matter; and they were accordingly published as Provisional Amending Regulations so that they could come into operation at the earliest possible moment.