§ 16. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has taken note of the recommendation contained in the Eighth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, that the Scottish Education Department should contain a separate branch in which architects, administrators and inspectors should work together in order to further the school building programme; and if he proposes to give effect to this recommendation.
§ Mr. J. StuartYes, Sir. I set up in the Department last April a building development team on the lines recommended in the Select Committee's Eighth Report.
§ Mr. RankinThat is very welcome news. I am sure we all hope it will speed up the school building programme in Scotland.
§ 17. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will urge local education authorities to establish consultative committees, on which teachers in their employment will be represented, to deal with the planning and design of new schools.
§ Mr. J. StuartIn my recent circular on School Building I said that it was desirable that at various stages the education authority should arrange to obtain advice on the planning of the school from experienced teachers who have had service in the type of school to be built and, if possible, in a new school building. I think that this method of consultation is likely to be more effective than the establishment of consultative committees.