HC Deb 10 December 1919 vol 122 cc1361-2W
Sir W. SUTHERLAND

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce his proposals regarding Grants towards the education rate of Highland areas; and, if so, will he state the nature of them?

Mr. MUNRO

In view of the special Grants formerly made to certain Highland districts, I propose for the present year to augment in varying degrees the proportion of expenditure which may normally be given as Grant to the authorities of these districts beyond the usual 50 per cent. A Minute to that effect will be laid forth with.

Colonel Sir A. SPROT

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether he is now in a position to state the conclusions he has arrived at as regards the payment of education Grants to outgoing school boards in respect of work done by them prior to the assumption of office by the new education authorities on the 15th May of this year;

(2) how he proposes to deal with the cases in Scotland in which the parish councils are refusing to raise the largely increased sums demanded for education this year as compared with last year; and if lie is prepared to furnish any pecuniary relief to assist the excessive calls upon the ratepayers for education?

Mr. MUNRO

After full consideration of this difficult question from every point of view, I have come to the conclusion that the claim to payment of these Grants should be admitted. A Minute will be laid forthwith providing for payment to the new education authorities from the Education (Scotland) Fund of sums equivalent to the amount of these Grants. The Minute further provides that the sums so granted shall be applied in the first place to cancelling the debit balances transferred by individual school boards to the new education authorities at 15th May. Any balance remaining of the Grants due to any school board will be held by the new authorities to the credit of the parish council or councils constituting the district of the former school board to meet pro tanto any apportionment of the deficit in the Education Fund that may be made to the relative parish council. I trust that any difficulty in regard to the raising of education rate by parish councils will not now arise.