HC Deb 27 June 1932 vol 267 cc1471-2
43. Sir A. M. SAMUEL

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will withhold the grant from public funds of £50,000 already authorised for the rebuilding of a school under the control of the Ross and Cromarty County Council, in view of the fact that the county council has decided that an expenditure of £3,000 for repairing the old school building would meet the case?

The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Major Sir Archibald Sinclair)

The premises of Dingwall Academy have been very unsatisfactory for many years, and the site is unhealthy. I am satisfied that reconstruction or extension of the existing buildings would be a mistaken policy, and that the only solution of the problem is a new building on a more suitable site. No specific grant has been authorised for the rebuilding, and there has never been any question of a grant of £50,000 in the present year. But the county council have been informed that the loan charges on a new school will be taken into account in the award of grant; on a loan of £50,000 these charges would amount to about £3,000 a year. The Department have received no intimation of any decision by the council that an expenditure of £3,000 for repairing the old school building would meet the case. Three or four months ago the county council modified their original scheme and decided in the meantime to erect on a new site only that part of the new building which would be required for the pupils in the primary school. The Department had no hesitation in agreeing to this modification.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise the validity of a letter written on his behalf by Mr. J. W. Peck, which gives the facts as set forth in my question? As this is a matter which affects the whole question of national economy will the Department, if they do not give Dingwall the £47,000 over and above the £3,000, hand the money back to the National Exchequer, or will the Department use it elsewhere in Scotland for education during the current year?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

As I tried to explain to my hon. Friend there is no question of handing back the money. The local council three or four months ago submitted a modified scheme which has been accepted, and there is no more controversy about it. The figures I have given are in accordance with the figures in the letter to which he refers, but, as stated in my reply, there never was any question in that letter or any other document issued on behalf of my Department of spending £50,000 this year.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

Is the right hon. Gentleman going to urge the proper authorities at Dingwall to spend £50,000, which is £47,000 more than they think sufficient for the purpose?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

As I have already said, we have had no representation that £3,000 would be adequate.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Is it not the fact that the County Council of Ross and Cromarty have decided that in the interests of economy they will not proceed with a school costing £50,000?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Certainly, and we have agreed.