§ 4. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years, he is prepared to give partly-built schools equal priority for completion with the first large-scale housing schemes; to ensure that any prefabricated huts required to accommodate the additional school population shall be specially designed for educational purposes; and to replace these huts within a stated period of time by permanent buildings.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Thomas Fraser)Until the provision of houses more closely approximates to the demand I cannot see my way to give equal priority to the completion of school buildings, but I shall do my best to facilitate their completion as far as the supply of labour and materials permits. It is impossible to provide the accommodation required for the raising of the school leaving age on 1st April, 1947, without using prefabricated huts now available, as specially designed huts could not be planned and constructed in the time. It is intended to replace the prefabricated huts as soon as labour and materials are available for permanent building, but I am unable at present to say when this will be.
§ Mr. RankinSo far as sites, structure, layout and furnishings of these temporary buildings are concerned, will they conform to the very best trends in modern educational requirements?
§ Mr. FraserYes, Sir.