§ 36. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the education committee of the London County Council desired to purchase the freehold of the Marylebone Grammar School in view of the proposed enlargement of the school; whether the ground landlord was willing to negotiate; and, if so, can he state the terms offered to the committee; whether there are compulsory powers by which the freehold can be acquired in such cases; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to confer this power upon local authorities?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the freeholder is unwilling to sell his interest. A local education authority have powers of compulsory purchase of land for the purpose of supplying or aiding the supply of higher education under Section 1 of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907.