§ Mr. FISHERasked the President of the Board of Education, whether, under the arrangements described in Circular 1,371, it is his intention to budget for a larger sum in 1926–27, in respect of grants to local education authorities, than the aggregate grants payable for 1924–25, less the specified deductions, so as to cover such desirable new projects as are mentioned in paragraph 3 of the Circular; or whether it is his intention that such new projects and other developments of educational facilities above the 1924–25 standard should be financed for the next three years by savings effected by local education authorities on their 1924–25 expenditure?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe grants provided for in the Appendix to the Circular are, in general, intended to be fixed amounts for that year, but when I meet the associations of local authorities in a few days' time I hope to discuss with them the effect of these grants in relation to their unavoidable commitments on new services in 1926–27. As regards the years subsequent to 1926–27, it was always my intention, as my right hon. Friend knows, to consider the finance of those years on the basis of programmes to be submitted by local authorities, and this intention is not affected by the fact that, in Circular 1.371, I have proposed to guarantee a fixed minimum grant to each authority for those years and have drawn the attention of authorities to the importance of effecting savings on non-essentials.
§ Mr. COVEasked the President of the Board of Education the sum of money which is equal to the grant payable for 1924–25 on elementary education, less one per cent.; and what sum of money would ordinarily accrue to local education authorities under existing grant regulation?
§ Lord E. PERCYAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3rd December to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Bosworth Division (Captain Gee, a copy of which I am sending him. As regards the second part, if I am correct in thinking that it refers to the 291W year 1926–27, the amount must depend upon the expenditure of local authorities on education in that year.