Page 3228 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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School Closures - Inquiry
MR WOOD: I direct a question to the Minister for Education. Mr Humphries, in order to gain the confidence of the community that the schools inquiry will be independent, will you seek the approval of the Council of P and C Associations and of the Opposition on the person to be appointed to conduct that inquiry?
MR HUMPHRIES: I think Mr Wood is well aware that decisions of this kind are not necessarily made in this fashion. The Government may decide to consult with groups like the P and C about that matter; that is not to say that they have a right of veto over that decision. I would certainly hope that the name the Government chooses is a name that groups such as the P and C council could easily support.
School Closures - Inquiry
MRS GRASSBY: My question is also to Mr Humphries. Will the Government's belated inquiry into school closures call school groups and others to give evidence, and will the proceedings be open to the public?
MR HUMPHRIES: I reject the assertion made by Mrs Grassby in her question that this is belated. The figures are on the table, and I think it is only appropriate, now that they are on the table, that there should be some consideration of the issues that they give rise to. To say that this could have happened before, I think, is hard to argue.
In terms of the way in which the inquiry will be conducted - I do not propose as a Minister, and the Government does not propose as a government, to prescribe the way in which the person conducting the inquiry should do so. If that person wishes to take evidence or to have public hearings or to have closed hearings, I remind Mrs Grassby - and I assume she attends some committee meetings - that some committees of the Assembly meet in camera on occasions. If these things are the choice of the assessor, then this is entirely up to the person conducting that assessment.
MRS GRASSBY: I have a supplementary question. The Minister can determine the way the inquiry will run. Can he promise an open and consultative inquiry?
MR HUMPHRIES: I think I have answered the question, Mr Speaker. I could prescribe the way in which the inquiry is to be conducted but I do not propose to. I believe that, it being an independent inquiry, the person conducting the inquiry should do so on a basis which is appropriate in the circumstances and which the person conducting the inquiry feels is appropriate. I am not going to tell that person that he or she should do certain things or should consult
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