21. Mr. J. T. Hallasked the Minister of Education what accommodation now exists in the county borough of Gateshead to enable children to qualify for the secondary technical schools and for the secondary grammar schools; and what percentage this is of the total in each case.
§ Miss HorsbrughIn January, 1953, the latest date for which I have figures, the authority were maintaining a grammar school with about 700 pupils on roll. This provided, together with some places which are available to the authority at independent and direct grant grammar schools, for about 9 per cent. of the 13 year old age group. The maintained school provision is in course of being doubled by the construction of a second grammar school of the same size.
Mr. HallIs the right hon. Lady aware that the post-war record of this authority has been very good and that there has been much concern about the aspersions cast upon the town in the recent education debate? Will the right hon. Lady continue to help the local authority to improve the position?
§ Miss HorsbrughYes, most certainly, Sir. I do not quite know what the hon. Gentleman means when he refers to aspersions being cast upon the town in the debate. I should be sorry if aspersions were cast upon any authority which was trying to do its job. I certainly did not cast aspersions. It is because I know that grammar school accommodation is wanted that the new school has been included. Work on the new school, which is the same size as the other, being for 700 pupils, started in 1953.