§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Education, whether his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of local education authorities regarding the burden which adequate medical inspection of school 1228W children will put upon rates, and the failure of the Board of Education hitherto to give what the local authorities consider to be fair financial assistance for this purpose; and whether he can now say what the Board of Education proposes to do, or when he intends to make a statement on the subject?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir. Many requests are constantly being made to me for increased grants in relief of local rates. Had either of the Education Bills of last Session passed into law, increased grants for educational purposes would have been made to local authorities. I am not in a position to make any statement at present, but the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have undertaken to receive a deputation on this, subject on the 20th of March.