§ 26. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state how many school buildings erected prior to the issue of the Hadow Report have been reorganised to meet the recommendations of that report and how many surplus places exist; what was the school accommodation recognised by the Board of Education of these premises before reorganisation and after reorganisation; what was the cost of the structural alterations necessary to give effect to the reorganisation; what was the cost of building and fitting new schools or departments of schools consequent on reorganisation; and what is the gross annual cost per child in the Hadow 492 schools before reorganisation and after reorganisation?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI regret that it would not be possible, without a, disproportionate expenditure of time and labour, to ascertain the figures for which my hon. Friend asks in the first three parts of his question. In regard to the fourth and fifth parts, I am afraid that it is impossible to separate the expenditure incurred in consequence of reorganisation from the expenditure attributable to other educational developments which have been taking place concurrently. In regard to the last part, the Board do not obtain from local education authorities information as to the cost of maintaining individual schools or departments, but in many cases reorganisation has, in fact, resulted in a saving to public funds by making possible a reduction in the number of teachers required. Under present conditions no new proposals involving reorganisation are approved unless they are likely to lead to a reduction in expenditure.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIn view of the importance of the particulars asked for, will not the hon. Gentleman go to a little extra trouble in order to get them?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMIf my hon. Friend will put on the Paper a question in a form which will enable me to give him such information as the Board possesses, I will do my best to supply it. Perhaps my hon. Friend will see me afterwards.