HC Deb 10 February 1953 vol 511 c212
33. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider his decision to withdraw the certificate from St. Mary's Girls' School, Bishopbriggs, in view of the fact that this is the only intermediate approved school for girls in Scotland.

Mr. J. Stuart

No, Sir. I am satisfied that Roman Catholic girls of the age-range covered by this approved school can be adequately provided for elsewhere.

Miss Herbison

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that everyone who knows anything at all about this social problem will deprecate strongly his decision, which means that girls of this intermediate age group will be housed in the same building as girls of the senior age group? Is he not aware that this will merely aggravate a grave social problem?

Mr. Stuart

I fully understand the hon. Lady's anxiety on this matter. We have corresponded and, as she knows, a new school at Bishopton which will accommodate 40 girls will be opened this year. The school to which the hon. Lady refers, St. Mary's School, is in a very bad state of repair and a lot of money would be needed to repair it. I can assure the hon. Lady that this closure is not immediate, and I give an undertaking that it will be reviewed before the actual decision to close it is taken.

Miss Herbison

Before the decision is taken, and indeed when the review is being undertaken, will the Secretary of State keep very much in his mind the grave social problems that are entailed in this question? Will he also consider, if the present building is not suitable, what chances there are of finding another building which will be separate from that of the senior pupils?

Mr. Stuart

I will bear in mind the hon. Lady's suggestion.