§ 1. Major PRESCOTTasked the President of the Board of Education whether any steps have been taken by his Department to urge county and local education authorities to expedite the submission of plans and the subsequent carrying out of building schemes relating to proposed new schools and additions and alterations to existing schools, in view of the number of unemployed skilled workmen in the building and allied trades at the present time?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Lewis)The Board are drawing the attention of local education authorities to a Circular issued by the Local Government Board announcing the removal of the restriction imposed during the War on borrowing by local authorities, but the present shortage and high prices of materials present a by no means negligible obstacle to immediate action. As 514 I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 14th April, I am sure that the local education authorities have every desire to expedite these works as much as is practicable in view of local conditions and the supply of material.