§ 66. Sir Percy Harrisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the report of the Surrey local education authority of 7th December, 1937, that, where proposals to erect new voluntary central schools were made, time was the essence of every scheme in order to have schools ready for the appointed day; whether he is aware that early in January, 1938, the Surrey diocesan officials announced that they would put forward schemes in 12 areas which they found possible and desirable, but that at present no agreement has been made for any one of these and no building in these 12 areas has been begun; and whether he will now take suitable action to assist the local education authority in their efforts to provide the necessary school accommodation?
Mr. LindsayMy Noble Friend is not aware of any projects for the provision of new voluntary senior schools in Surrey except those which have reached his De- 1391 partment. These have been, and will continue to be, dealt with as quickly as the procedure prescribed by Section 18 of the Education Act, 1921, permits. If and when it becomes clear that any of them will not materialise, the hon. Member may be assured that the Board will do their best to facilitate the provision of any necessary school accommodation by the local education authority. He will not, of course, overlook the provisions of Subsection (2) of Section 8 of the Act of 1936.