§ Mr. LEACHasked the President of the Board of Education if it is his intention, under the powers which he possesses, to offer small scholarships to the boys and girls of working people of proved ability, to enable them to continue their educational career beyond the time at which such youths usually go to work for wages?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEThe proposal in the question raises large financial and administrative questions with which it is not possible to deal by means of question and answer. I may say, however, that the provision of such scholarships needs knowledge of local circumstances and is more naturally a function of local education authorities than of the Board of Education, and my hon. Friend will be glad to know that such scholarships are already provided, to some extent, by the local education authorities. So far as education in secondary schools is concerned, the Board's grants are largely directed to securing, in part, the object of my hon. Friend and the Board have in view.