§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked whether the Board of Agriculture have been asked by a joint committee of the Kent and Surrey County Councils to hold an inquiry into the management of the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye; have the Board declined to hold the inquiry; and, if so, why?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe answer to the first and second part is in the affirmative. The Board, after careful consideration in consultation with the Board of Education, came to the conclusion that no useful purpose would be served by an inquiry.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSHas there not already been an informal inquiry which is unsatisfactory, and if the Board of Agriculture contributes to this college is it not necessary to have a satisfactory inquiry?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI regret to say I cannot give any further answer to the question.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have been asked by a joint committee of the Kent and Surrey County Councils to hold an inquiry into the management of the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye; have the Board declined to hold the inquiry; and, if so, why?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)I have nothing to add to the answer which was given just now to the same question by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the report of a joint committee of two county councils is not worthy of some consideration?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt has had full consideration and the decision arrived at is the joint decision of the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Education.