Under the existing law the primary responsibility rests on the local authorities, and by means of Treasury grants the cost is shared equally between the Exchequer and local funds. My hon. Friend's suggestion would involve more than a financial change: it would involve depriving the local authorities of their duties and responsibilities in connection with approved schools, of which about a third are managed by the local authorities themselves. I should deprecate any scheme which involved the loss of the valuable co-operation of the local authorities.