§ 39. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has classified the list of defective schools as shown by the inspectors of the Board into three categories; under what heading have these classifications been made; and the number of such schools under each heading in the London County area?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Duchess of Atholl)Yes, Sir; the schools in question have been classified as follow:
List (C) has not been drawn up for all areas. For the London County area, list (A) contained six schools, list (B) 15, and list (C) two.
- (A) Schools the premises of which appear to be unsuitable for continued recognition and incapable of improvement.
- (B) Schools which, upon the information before the Board, ought not to continue to be recognised in their present condition—at all events for their present numbers—but which might possibly be made suitable either for the same or for reduced numbers, but only by means of large expenditure.
- (C) Schools which, although in the opinion of the Board unsuitable for their present recognised accommodation, may not be unsuitable for much lower numbers.
§ Mr. HARRISCan the Noble Lady tell me if any action is going to be taken, and, if so, how it will affect the block grant, because if a lot of these schools are condemned will not local authorities have to find new schools?
Duchess of ATHOLLI think it was made quite clear in the recent Debate on Memorandum 44 issued by the Board of Education that my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider proposals by local authorities for dealing with schools on List (A). My right hon. Friend also said that he is prepared to receive proposals for dealing with schools on List (B), provided it can be shown that the capital expenditure involved can be balanced by economies resulting from consequent reorganisation.
§ Mr. TREVELYANIs the right hon Gentleman prepared to press that the schools on List (A) shall be registered?
§ 54. Mr. TREVELYANasked the President of the Board of Education how many schools have been placed on List (A) of defective elementary school premises; what representations have been made in regard to these schools to local education authorities and what requirements in regard to their replacement or improvement; and in how many cases are steps being taken to deal with the unsatisfactory premises?
Duchess of ATHOLLSix hundred and sixty-five schools have been placed on List A. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend has requested each local authority to take into consideration the cases in their area (if they have not already done so) and to confer with his Department, either directly or through His Majesty's inspectors, with a view to arriving at an agreement upon the steps to be taken with regard to them. As regards the last part of the question, he cannot at the present add anything to the reply which he gave to the right hon. Gentleman on the 8th of this month.
§ Sir J. NALLIs the Noble Lady aware that in some cases denominational schools included on the list for closing are now the subject of overtures from the 2109 local authority who wish to lease them for reopening as non-denominational schools?