HC Deb 10 March 1949 vol 462 cc1365-6
4. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Education if he will reconsider the position regarding secondary school accommodation in Macclesfield, with a view to allotting a proportion of vacancies to rural school children of secondary school age.

The Minister of Education (Mr. Tomlinson)

No, Sir. Reorganisation of the rural schools in the Macclesfield area must wait until additional accommodation, now being provided in prefabricated huts, is ready.

Air-Commodore Harvey

How can the right hon. Gentleman really say that, when children in villages like Gawsworth do not get a look into the secondary schools in the borough? Why cannot a larger proportion of the places go to children from the villages? Is he aware that there is great concern and indignation on that point?

Mr. Tomlinson

The reason is that, until the pre-fabricated huts are ready, it will not be possible to deal with the problem in the way that has been suggested. I would point out that, for over 20 years, when there were facilities available, reorganisation has been advocated, but nothing has been done.