105Power of the Minister to make loans to aided schools and special agreement schools in respect of initial expenditure.
(1)If upon the application of the managers or governors of any aided school or special agreement school the Minister is satisfied after consultation with persons representing them that their share of any initial expenses required in connection with the school premises will involve capital expenditure which, in his opinion having regard to all the circumstances of the case, ought properly to be met by borrowing, he may make to the managers or governors of the school for the purpose of helping them to meet that expenditure, a loan of such amount at such rate of interest and otherwise on such terms and conditions as may be specified in an agreement made between him and them with the consent of the Treasury.
(2)For the purposes of this section, the expression " initial expenses " means in relation to any school premises—
(a)expenses to be incurred in defraying the cost of any alterations required by the development plan approved by the Minister for the area ;
(b)expenses to be incurred in pursuance of any special agreement;
(c)expenses to be incurred in the construction of any school which, by virtue of an order made under section sixteen of this Act, is deemed not to be a newly established school or is deemed to be in substitution for any discontinued school or schools ;
(d)expenses certified by the Minister under the last foregoing section as being attributable to the provision of education for displaced pupils;
and the managers' or governors' share of any such initial expenses shall be taken to be so much thereof as remains to be borne by them after taking into account the amount of any maintenance contribution, grant under a special agreement, or grant under either of the last two foregoing sections, as may be paid or payable in respect of those expenses.
(3)If upon an application being made to him under subsection (2) of section fifteen of this Act for an order directing that a school shall be an aided school or a special agreement school it appears to the Minister that the area served by the school will not be also served by any county school or controlled school, then, unless he is satisfied that the managers or governors of the school will be able to defray the expenses which would fall to be borne by them under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of that section without the assistance of a loan under this section, the Minister shall consult such persons or bodies of persons as appear to him to be representative of any religious denomination which, in his opinion having regard to the circumstances of the area, is likely to be concerned ; and, unless after such consultation he is satisfied that the holding of a local inquiry is unnecessary, shall cause such inquiry to be held before determining the application.