asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to provide for the parents of children who are compelled to attend central schools at some distance from their homes allowances sufficient to make up for the extra cost of food and clothing that is necessitated by such attendances?

I hope that the arrangements which I have now been able to make for encouraging the grant of maintenance allowances to children who remain at school after the compulsory age will much facilitate attendance at central schools, but I do not see my way to extend those arrangements in the manner suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Leicestershire, in three places, the parents are now on strike, and refusing to send their children to the central school, simply on account of the extra charge of 2s. a week which they have to pay?

Is the Minister prepared to see to it that the children, for instance, in the Island of Lewis, where they are going to school for the day on nothing but potatoes, practically starving—

The Minister does not control education in Scotland.

We have made representations to the Secretary for Scotland on this matter, and he states that he can do nothing because of the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Education.