§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether his attention has been called to a request from the School Board of Llanelly (Brecon), for the sanction by the Education Department of an enlargement of the Board School; whether it is a fact that in the Voluntary and Board Schools of the district, taken together, more than sufficient accommodation is available for the children; and, whether, under such circumstances, the Department is empowered, by the Education Act, to require or to sanction the provision of unnecessary school accommodation at the expense of the ratepayers?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE) (Kent, Dartford)The Question to which my hon. Friend refers is merely one of adding a classroom, which both the Board and the Inspector of the district think necessary for the proper organization of the school. Moreover, the Department are not satisfied that there is a sufficiency of accommodation in the existing schools; and, under all the circumstances, it would be unusual to refuse to sanction the Board's proposal.