asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that not only do local authorities have to pay the whole cost of the medical inspection of school children, but if, on the advice of the medical officer, they exclude children from school or compel their attendance at centres for remedial treatment they suffer a further loss of Grants owing to their absence; and if he proposes, by legislation or otherwise, to remove this burden from the ratepayers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend has received no evidence to show that the reduction of Grant due to exclusion of children from school for the reasons mentioned in the question has, in fact, been substantial. He is considering how far it is possible to effect a reconstruction of the system of Grants, but he is not in a position to make any statement on the matter.