§ MR. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what were the special circumstances of the case, and who informed him as to the special circumstances of the case, which induced him to depart from what he has stated is "the ordinary course," and, at the last moment, to withdraw the sanction for the sale of Bowling Public Hall, against the finding of an inquiry held by the Education Department on the spot?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe ordinary course is for a School Board to sell a building which it does not want. The special circumstances in this case were that a right of public use was attached to the premises, and, therefore, a very small sum only could have been obtained for them; while it was of the first importance; that the strongest security should be taken that the community at large should have full and free use of the building. The arrangement which is being made by the School Board is the best that can be made in order to secure this object.
§ MR. HOZIERFrom whom did the right hon. Gentleman derive his information?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Department informed itself of the facts partly from the School Board and partly by the inquiries of its own officers.