96. Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will issue instructions that a public notice of not less than three months shall 1246 be given where a local education authority makes application for the approval of an appointed day under the terms of the Education Act, 1918, in order that the ratepayers concerned may have adequate opportunity of considering the application in all its bearings?
§ Mr. FISHERI presume the hon. and gallant Member has in mind appointed days for Section 10 of the Act. I should be unwilling to bind myself or my successors absolutely to a particular procedure which is not prescribed by Statute, but I quite agree that when proposals are submitted to the Board for fixing appointed days for this Section, ratepayers and other persons interested should have ample opportunities of submitting their views before any decision is arrived at. I have proceeded on this principle in the past.