§ Mr. Llewellynasked the Minister of Education what precedents there are in England and Wales for a demand by a local authority for an inquiry such as that demanded by the Pembrokeshire local authority into the proposed building of a Roman Catholic school at Pembroke Dock; and on what grounds he has decided to hold a public inquiry in this instance.
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo such demand was made by the Pembrokeshire local authority. Under Section 93 of the Education Act, 1944, which continues the powers formerly given under Section 156 of the Education Act, 1921, I have power to cause a local inquiry to be held for the purpose of the exercise of any of my functions under this Act. In this case I considered that an inquiry would help me to decide whether the proposed school is necessary or not. This is the first inquiry of this particular kind to be held under the 1944 Act, but similar inquiries were not infrequently held under Section 156 of the 1921 Act.