§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there is a growing disparity between the local and Imperial subventions to the cost of education, the total Government Grant for Portsmouth for the year amounting to £63,512, the total sum drawn from the local rates being £85,600; and whether he can see his way to more equitably allocate these subventions?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the contributions of the Exchequer to the cost of education have not grown in proportion to the increase of the expenditure of local education authorities. I do not know on what basis the two totals quoted in the question have been calculated. They do338W not appear to agree with the latest available statistics of the Board of Education. With regard to the last part of the question, the Board are not, of course, responsible for the allocation of money raised from rates, and their own subventions cannot exceed the sums placed at their disposal by Parliament.