HC Deb 27 May 1954 vol 528 cc586-7
11. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the much higher birth rate in the new towns and the existing high proportion of children in these localities, if she has given consideration to the financial and other difficulties arising from these facts, with a view to granting special assistance to the appropriate education authorities, both now and in the future.

Miss Horsbrugh

I see no reason for giving special financial assistance outside the present education grant formula, which already takes account, amongst other factors, of the number of children to be educated in the area of each authority and the capacity of the authority to pay for their education.

Mr. Sorensen

Is it not a fact that the new towns stand in a different category seeing that they are the result of a national decision and have a most unusual burden through the high incidence of the birthrate? In these circumstances, will the right hon. Lady sympathetically reconsider the matter?

Miss Horsbrugh

If the hon. Member considers the grant formula he will see that it deals with this question. In addition to making a grant of 60 per cent. on all recognised expenditure, there is also a capitation grant of £6 per child and a deduction of the product of a 30d. rate.

Mr. Remnant

Will my right hon. Friend take care to see that other schools, particularly in the rural areas, are not pushed into the background by the claims of the new towns schools which may be more in the public eye?

Miss Horsbrugh

I quite agree with my hon. Friend about the difficulties we are facing. We have to see that every child has a chance of going to school and, until we have sufficient schools for these children coming into new towns, new housing estates and so on, we cannot do what we all want to do—build more schools for re-organisation.