HC Deb 07 April 1921 vol 140 cc454-5
83. Mr. HAYDAY

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the number of cases in which local education authorities have applied to the Board for permission to build new schools and have been refused permission?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Fisher)

There are seven cases in which, in pursuance of the announcement made in Circular 1190, the Board have refused to entertain applications by local education authorities for their sanction to the erection of new schools.

Mr. HAYDAY

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why they have declined to do this?

Mr. FISHER

Generally, they take the view that the case for urgency has not been made out.

Mr. HAYDAY

Would it be on the ground of the expense of the sites, or is it the opinion of the Board that already there is sufficient accommodation?

Mr. FISHER

Both those considerations were certainly considered.

Mr. R. RICHARDSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that parents are now threatening to keep their children away from school because of the state of the schools, and yet the Board is refusing permission to build more schools?

Mr. FISHER

I am aware that there is a great demand all over the country for additional school accommodation.

84. Mr. LAWSON

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of schools reported to the Board of Education or to the local authorities as requiring, in the interests of efficiency, structural or other alterations and in which the carrying out of such alterations has been postponed?

Mr. FISHER

I should not feel justified in undertaking such detailed investigation and inquiries as would be necessary to enable me to answer this question with any accuracy; nor would the result assist me to any earlier attainment of such practicable improvement of school buildings as is necessary for efficiency, which I oan assure the hon. Member I am most anxious to secure.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in consequence of the neglect of these schools the children are suffering very great hardships, and will he see that the children in these schools receive their education under conditions of comfort?

Mr. FISHER

I can assure the hon. Member that the considerations to which he refers are present to my mind. I am aware that the elementary schools have suffered a great deal during the War. There are many repairs to be undertaken and many structural undertakings which are not questions of emergency.