§ 4. Mr. Butcherasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that although the approval of his Ministry was given for the erection for an external iron staircase at the Spalding High School for girls on 14th December, 1946, this staircase has not been erected owing to the difficulty in securing the necessary materials; and whether he will indicate the relations between his Department and the Ministry of Supply to ensure that small quantities of iron and steel essential for safety precautions, as recommended by the N.F.S., are released in this and similar cases.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the regional officers of the Ministry of Supply do what they can to assist in the supply of steel for work of the kind concerned, but deliveries from the rolling mills are unavoidably delayed by pressure of work and orders having overriding priority.
§ Mr. ButcherCan the Minister give any indication of when these materials will be available?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, but we are pressing to get them as speedily as we can.