HC Deb 10 October 1946 vol 427 cc348-9
33. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Education whether she can now say on what date her Department can arrange to make premises known as Llansantffread Court available to the owners

Mr. Hardman

My right hon. Friend has approved the purchase of a large house in Warwickshire which the local education authority for Birmingham propose to use for the evacuated special school which has been housed in Llansantffread Court. The authority consider it essential to cary out adaptations before these new premises can be used for that purpose. This work which will be kept to a minimum may take as long as nine months, but my right hon. Friend has received an assurance that every effort will be made to complete the essential alterations in the shortest possible time.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Birmingham authority succeeded in the negotiation for these new premises as long ago as May of this year and that the whole of the period since has been taken up in trying to get permission to buy them from his Department? Are we going to have to wait another nine months before the owners of this hotel property can get the premises which belong to them?

Mr. Hardman

I shall be very glad to receive any further details which can be given to the Department and my right hon. Friend will be glad to look into the matter, but such information as I have has been given in my reply.

Mr. De la Bère

Is not the delay shocking?