asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state, for each year since 1905–6, the number of children under five years on which estimates were based for the ordinary annual elementary school Grant voted by Parliament, and the exact amount actually paid under the same Grant for children of those years?

The estimates for annual Grants are based upon the total number of children in respect of whom Grant will be payable, and are not sub- divided according to the ages of the children. The first complete financial year in which Grants paid on children under five years of age are distinguishable from those paid on children over five years of age was that ending 31st March, 1912. The number of children under five years of age in respect of whom Grants became payable in that year was 270,294, and in the following year 257,507.