HC Deb 29 July 1954 vol 531 cc666-7
14. Mr. Morley

asked the Minister of Education why, when Southampton local education authority asked for an allocation of £42,690 for supplementary allocations for minor capital work on school building, only £13,600 was allocated for that purpose.

Miss Horsbrugh

I made this allocation, as a supplement to the authority's basic allocation of £17,775, after taking into account the size of its major school building programme, its need for additional school places and the relative urgency of the need for the improvements which it wished to carry out.

Mr. Morley

Is the right hon. Lady aware that this reduced allocation is preventing the local authority from carrying out some very necessary and urgent work on the schools, particularly on improving sanitation? Will she be a bit more generous the year after?

Miss Horsbrugh

I would point out that the total allocation for minor works has been £31,375, and, in addition to any extra places provided, there will he about £15,000 for improvement.

28. Miss Bacon

asked the Minister of Education the total amount requested by local authorities in the last financial year for minor capital work; and how much was approved.

Miss Horsbrugh

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have the figures.

29. Miss Bacon

asked the Minister of Education how much of the money allowed for minor capital work in the last financial year was used for extensions.

Miss Horsbrugh

£2.1 million out of the allocation to local education authorities in 1953–54 for minor works.

Miss Bacon

I am not quite clear why the right hon. Lady is now able to answer this Question when she was not able to give me an answer to Question No. 28. This Question is consequential upon Question No. 28. How, therefore, is she able to give me one answer without the other?

Miss Horsbrugh

If the hon. Lady will look at the two Questions, she will see that in Question No. 28 she asked me to give the total amount requested by local authorities in the last financial year for minor capital work and how much was approved; and, in Question No. 29, she asked me how much of the money allowed for minor capital work in the last financial year was used for extensions. The first figures I cannot give her immediately, but I will let her have them in writing.