§ Mr. COVEasked the Minister of Labour the estimated total annual additional cost to local education authorities of the junior instruction centres foreshadowed in the Unemployment Bill?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe cost will depend on the number and size of the centres set up, and these will in turn depend on the degree and distribution of unemployment among juveniles under the age of 18. On the basis of an average total attendance of 100,000, it is estimated that the additional cost of the centres in the first full year, including capital expenditure, would be about £1,130,000, of which it is contemplated that one-fourth, or about £280,000, would be borne by the local education authorities. The cost at present borne by those authorities in this connection is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of £35,000.