§ Captain WARINGasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Education Department has ordered the amalgamation of the Banff (Landward) and Ord school districts with Banff Burgh; whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ratepayers of the Landward district are unanimously opposed to amalgamation; and whether, in view of the expressed opinion that the policy of the department, if carried out, would be deleterious to the interests of education in the district, he can see his way to postpone the ratification of the Order until he has made some further inquiry into the question?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs the result of a careful inquiry by an experienced commissioner, a draft Order for that amalgamation has been submitted to the two school boards in question. The statutory procedure in the matter gives due opportunity for considering further representations, but, beyond that, I should not be justified in giving the promise asked for by my hon. Friend?