§ Mr. MALLALIEUasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of paragraph 6 of the Draft Statutory Rules and Orders, 1920 [Cmd. 602], which prevents educational areas being considered necessitous until they are rated at 4s. in the £ and thus debars many educational authorities from receiving increased grants, he will favourably consider the reduction of the rating figure from 4s. to some lower amount?
§ Mr. FISHERI have explained the position to a large deputation of representatives of local education authorities. I cannot say whether or to what extent it will be possible to lower the "prescribed amount" until I have received full particulars of the estimates of local education authorities generally.