§ Mr. Tudor Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will indicate the names of 478W the organisations, societies and local authorities which have submitted objections to the proposed closure of the Merthyr Cynog and Upper Chapel primary schools by the Breconshire Education Authority, and the number of petitions from local government electors and whether, in view of this, he will set up a local public inquiry to examine the matter.
§ Mr. Gordon Walker:Notices under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944 for the closure of the Merthyr Cynog and Upper Chapel Primary Schools were published by the Breconshire Education Authority on 7th September, 1967. Since then objections have been received from the following local bodies and organisations:
- Merthyr Cynog Parish Council;
- Rural District Council of Brccknock;
- Bethania Independent Chapel;
- Upper Chapel Eisteddfod Committee;
- Upper Chapel Sewing Class;
- Merthyr Cynog and District Women's Institute;
- Upper Chapel Choral Class;
- Merthyr Cynog Branch of the Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs;
- Siloah Presbyterian Chapel, Merthyr Cynog;
- Merthyr Cynog Parish Church Parochial Church Council;
- Merthyr Cynog and Upper Chapel Mothers' Union Branch;
- Merthyr Cynog Extra-mural Geography Class;
- Duffryn Honddu (Upper Chapel) Parochial Church Council;
- Ebenezer Independent Chapel (signed by 74 electors);
- Petition signed by 36 electors of the Parish Council of Merthyr Cynog.
It is not the practice of my Department to hold local inquiries in connection with proposals for the discontinuance of County or voluntary schools. The statutory procedure under Section 13 of the Education Act 1944 provides ample opportunity for interested parties to submit objections, and these are fully considered before a decision is made under the Act.