§ 41. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if, in view of the shortage of secondary school places in the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme, she will take action to assist the local education authority to complete the Bradwell Secondary Modern School more rapidly; and if she will cancel the postponement order on the Chesterton Secondary Modern School.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe need to complete this school as quickly as possible is recognised. Shortages of bricks and of labour are delaying the building work, but my officers and those of the local education authority are doing their best to overcome these difficulties. I am now discussing with the authority what provision for Chesterton should be made in the 1954–55 building programme.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the right hon. Lady aware of the very overcrowded state of the existing secondary schools in New-castle-under-Lyme, of the excessive and wasteful travelling imposed on many children, and of the almost insuperable difficulty of reorganisation confronting the local education authority? Will she therefore reconsider her refusal to approve any project at all in Newcastle-under-Lyme in this financial year?
§ Miss HorsbrughI have already pointed out to the hon. Gentleman the difficulty about the particular school which was started in 1951. I am told there have been difficulties about work on the foundations, but I am glad to think that the local authority is getting on more quickly with the school now. As for the school for Chesterton, I am discussing that proposition with the authority.
§ 42. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education her estimate of the rise in the secondary school population in the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme between 1946 and 1956; how many new secondary school places have been provided since 1946 and what action she is taking to ensure that there is an adequate number of secondary places for the children requiring them.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe number of children aged 11 and over in maintained schools other than special schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme increased from 3,773 in January, 1946, to 5,009 in January, 1953, and the local education authority expect it to rise to about 5,500 by January, 1956. About 1,000 secondary school places have been provided since 1946, and 450 more are under construction. I shall include some secondary school provision in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the 1954–55 building programme, but I cannot say how much until discussions with the authority are completed.
§ Mr. SwinglerCan I take it as a definite undertaking from the Minister that at least two projects will be approved in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the next financial year?
§ Miss HorsbrughI have already stated that I am now in discussion with the local authority about this particular project.