13 FEBRUARY 1926, Page 3

- The Liberal amendment to the Address was moved by

Sir John Simon on Monday. It complained that the King's speech contained no reference to education and challenged Lord Eustace Percy's proposal to substitute block-grants for the percentage system. Sir John Simon paid that the whole spirit of Circular 1371 and Memor- andum 44 was a reversal, or at any rate a suspension, of the ideas which had governed education since 1918. Lord Eustace pointed out, rightly as we think, that block-grants would give the local authorities -freedom to spend money to the best advantage. He would consult the local authorities as to the best basis of assessment for the grants. He added that the block-grant system would not be introduced till next year and would probably be for a period of three years. The grants would be minima ; they would have to be added to as the schemes of the local authorities proved the necessity. The amendment was rejected by 284 votes to 135.

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