§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state the number of minutes and circulars issued annually by the Scotch Education Department during the years 1906–11 respectively, and the average 936W annual number for the preceding five years, 1901–5; and, in the event of the figures showing an increase, if he can give any explanation of such increase?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe information asked for by the hon. Member is as follows:—
Year. Minutes Issued. Circulars Issued (excluding Reissues of former Circulars). 1906 … 2 16 1907 … 1 7 1908 … 4 6 1909 … 9 14 1910 … 6 12 1911 … 8 7 For the preceding five years, 1901–5, the average annual number of minutes issued was 1.4, and of circulars 16.6, so that the average number for these years has not been reached in the case of circulars in any one of the succeeding years, while in the case of minutes an increase has taken place. Of the thirty minutes issued since 1905, twenty-four were required to be issued in pursuance of the Education (Scotland) Acts (in many cases complementary to the Acts), the Act of 1908 being specially responsible, while the remaining six were administrative regulations made annually for the disposal of the General Aid Grant and the Special Grants to necessitous school boards. I might mention that a large proportion of the Circulars also were of a routine character or had only a limited issue among educational authorities.