§ 68. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the lack of school accommodation at Luton, where 58 per cent. of the elementary scholars are in fourteen departments in which the average attendance exceeds the accommodation; and what action he proposes to take?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)The hon. Member's figures appear to be taken from the returns for the school year, 1910–11. Since then 570 school places in all have been added at four schools, and the Board have now before them proposals to provide 1,300 further places in provided and 300 further places in non-provided schools. The returns for the last school year show an excess of average attendance over accommodation of seventy-seven units, spread over four departments only. The overcrowding in three departments will be met by alterations now in progress at a provided school, and in the fourth by the erection of a new provided school, the plans for which have been received by the Board.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very rapid increase in population and the development of house property in Luton and is he keeping the local authorities up in pace with the demand?