HC Deb 25 January 1955 vol 536 cc11-2
19. Mr. Pryde

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the Government's policy in regard to rural schools in Midlothian.

Mr. J. Stuart

The policy, both in Midlothian and elsewhere, is to encourage education authorities to keep existing rural schools open wherever practicable and to agree to their being closed only if there are very strong reasons for closure.

Mr. Pryde

Is the Secretary of State aware of the primitive conditions of sanitation which exist in most of these schools in Midlothian? Is he also aware of the sad lack of amenities in and around these rural schools? Was it an act of God that set fire to, and destroyed, that tin contraption at Woodmuir, Breich, last week, to the evident satisfaction of everybody concerned?

Mr. Stuart

As far as I know, it was an act of God, because I have no evidence to prove how it was done.