§ 51. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Education how many new schools there were under construction on 1st March, 1954; and if he will give the respective figure for the same date in 1955.
§ The Minister of Education (Sir David Eccles)Figures are not available for 1st March, 1955. On 1st June, 1955, there were 930 new schools under construction, compared with 993 a year earlier.
§ Mr. JohnsonWill the Minister confirm that in under two years' time there will be over 1 million school children in secondary schools? Can he give the House an assurance that he is building a sufficient number of secondary schools to take this bulge as the school population move up? Many teachers and education committees do not think that he can do that.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe secondary school population is increasing. I think that at its peak in five or six years' time it will be about 750,000 higher than it is now. The hon. Member will realise that secondary schools are bigger than primary schools. That is the reason why the number of schools under construction has gone down.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs it not a fact that the classes in secondary schools are smaller? Is it not obvious, therefore, that we shall need more schoolrooms, more teachers for the teaching units, and, of course, more schools?
§ Sir D. EcclesI realise that, and I know that it will be a tight squeeze, but I hope that we shall manage to build enough secondary schools. That is the intention.