§ 22. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education the percentage fall in the number of primary schools under construction between 1st January, 1952, and 1st January, 1955; and the percentage rise in the 1053 number of primary classes with more than 40 pupils apiece from 1st January, 1952, to the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Sir D. EcclesFifty-seven per cent. and in the same period, 14 per cent. respectively. The decline in primary school building reflects the changes in the school roll to which I referred in Tuesday's debate.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that those figures also reflect the reality of the backward policy in primary education in the last three years, and stand in rather stark contrast to his sunshine talk the other day? Is he aware that these figures very clearly show that primary school building has been reduced during the period when there were more primary school children to be educated?
§ Sir D. EcclesThat is not at all an accurate account of the position. For instance, there are under construction today 130,000 primary school places, all of which will be completed after the primary school roll has begun to decline. The position will be getting steadily better in primary schools from now onwards.
§ Mr. SwinglerHow does the right hon. Gentleman explain the fact that there are now more overcrowded classes than there were three or four years ago? Is he aware that the number of overcrowded classes has increased by 10,000 since 1951? That clearly shows an increasing inadequacy of the number of school places.
§ Sir D. EcclesI think the hon. Member will get some comfort from my Written Answer to Question No. 18.