§ Captain WARINGasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Education Department has ordered the amalgamation of the Banff (Landward) and Orr school districts with Banff burgh in contravention of Section 22 (1) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, which lays down that the school board making representations shall be that board whose identity would be merged by amalgamation; and whether, in view of the fact that in this instance the representations have been made by the school board which desires to effect annexation, he will refuse to ratify the Order?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and, as regards both parts, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to him on the subject on Monday, to which I have only to add that I cannot find that the Act lays down the condition stated in the question.