HC Deb 14 July 1938 vol 338 cc1522-3
Mr. Henderson Stewart

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the present position in regard to the Fife Educational Trust Scheme, 1936, and the Perth and Kinross Educational Trust Scheme, 1936; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Wedderburn)

Yes, Sir. I understand that doubts have been expressed whether the procedure laid down in the Acts of 1928 and 1935 has been fully complied with in the case of these two schemes. My right hon. Friend thinks it desirable that there should be no possibility of doubt on this point, and in the circumstances he is of opinion that the proper course will be that the Scottish Education Department should be placed in a position to prepare new schemes under the powers conferred on them by the Act of 1928. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend proposes to recommend the House to agree to the Motions on the Order Paper in the names of the hon. Members for East Fife and Inverness praying His Majesty to withhold his approval from these schemes.

Mr. Westwood

In the event of there being any change which has to be reconsidered in the schemes that may be made by the Education Department, can we have an assurance that all parties interested will again be in a position to submit any evidence to the Department before any of those changes are given effect?

Mr. Wedderburn

That is provided for in Section 41 of the Act.

Mr. T. Johnston

Are only two of those Orders affected by the decision in another place, or are there other trusts which have been similarly disadvantaged by the Commission giving its decision only a day before it went out of office, and no appeal being permissible?

Mr. Wedderburn

There are only two county schemes outstanding, the Fife scheme and the Perthshire scheme, and it is proposed to withdraw both those schemes and introduce new ones.