§ Mr. VIANTasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in refusing to recognise as an expenditure ranking for grant payments to the former secretary of the Willesden local education authority of compensation upon abolition of his office, he is aware that the authority in abolishing the office were acting in the best interests of education in the area and were actuated by motives of economy; and whether he will state the reasons for disallowing such expendi- 2940W ture from ranking for Parliamentary grant under the Board's Regulations, No. 1, Substantive Grant?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have no reason to suppose that the local authority's reasons for abolishing the office of secretary in this case were other than those suggested in the question. It is, however, the settled practice of the Board not to recognise for grant expenditure of local education authorities in granting pensions to their officers, and I do not consider that the payment of an annuity by way of compensation to the officer referred to is expenditure in aid of which grant should be paid.