Colonel NEWMAN:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet committee who are considering the cost of national education have before them the report of the Departmental Committee on Scholarships and Free Places; whether this report advocates the abolition of fees in secondary education, because fee payers feel themselves entitled to more responsibility and influence than their contributions warrant; and will the Committee also consider the fact that to abolish fees would mean an eventual loss to national and local funds estimated at £7,600,000 per annum?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second part, that the Committee do not recommend the immediate abolition of fees. I do not understand how my hon. Friend has arrived at the estimate of cost given in the last part of his question.

Colonel NEWMAN:

Would the right hon. Gentleman read the report of the Committee on this particular subject? If he reads the Minority report he will find out the figures.

I read the report as much as I could.

May I ask whether it is a fact that for the education received by the fee-paying scholars in our secondary schools the cost is doubled?

Colonel NEWMAN:

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the representations that have been addressed to the Board of Education by local authorities as well as by public bodies urging a postponement of the putting into operation of parts of the Education Act, 1918, the decision of the Cabinet committee on the subject will be made known before 1st January so that local authorities may be able to make the necessary arrangements?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave yesterday on this subject.

Colonel NEWMAN:

How are the local authorities to frame their scheme of finance for the year if they do not know what they are to be called upon to pay?

It is precisely the same question that has been raised before, and can only give the same answer.