30. Mrs. Whiteasked the Minister of Education which education authorities besides Radnorshire have been informed that they are not to be allowed to undertake any new school building in the ensuing year.
§ Miss HorsbrughI think it likely that when all authorities' programmes for 1954 have been settled there will be, in addition to Radnorshire, five Welsh and about 16 English authorities with no school building programme for that year. Of these, four did not ask to undertake any new building in 1954.
Mrs. WhiteIs the Minister aware that the announcement of the programme, or rather lack of programme, in Radnorshire has been a shock to Wales and that if there are to be other authorities who are not to build any schools there will be still further shocks? Is she aware that it is most disturbing to those authorities who have asked to be allowed to build schools and have been refused? How does she square this with the suggestion that the school building programme is not being thwarted in any way?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe school building programme is being increased, and the number of new starts is being increased. But, as I think the hon. Lady will agree, these new schools must go where there exists the greatest need, where there is an increase in the number of children going to school, and where there are more housing estates.