MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Llansantffraid-Glyn-Ceiriog, Denbighshire, in reference to school accommodation; whether he is aware that the residents have frequently made representations to the Education Department as to the insufficiency of accommodation and inefficiency of the existing National School; and that Her Majesty's Inspector, J. Morgan Owen, having been directed by the Department, reported that the present school answered the requirements of the neighbourhood; whether, after a recent inquiry 1094 by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector into the case, Her Majesty's Inspector T. Morgan Owen's Report was overruled, and an additional school declared by the Department to be necessary for the village of Glyn; and whether he will take steps to prevent such Reports as that recently over-ruled being made to the Department in future?
§ MR. ACLANDMy attention has been drawn to this case. The first representation from residents as to an insufficiency of school accommodation reached the Department last May. Investigation was then directed, and Mr. Morgan Owen reported that, in his opinion, an enlargement of the National School would meet the case. The School Board were dissatisfied with his Report, and thereupon the Chief Inspector for Wales was sent to make special inquiry. On his Report the Department have sanctioned the provision by the Board of a new school for 120 or 130 children for the village of Glyn. It is impossible to prevent such differences of opinion, as these Reports indicate, from arising from time to time; but where, as in this case, doubts arise as to the correctness of an Inspector's opinion, the Department will take steps to obtain a further opinion from the Chief Inspector.