HC Deb 27 October 1955 vol 545 cc354-5
15. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education if he has considered a letter from the education committee of the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme about the inadequacy of the proposed 1956–57 school building programme; and what reply he will make.

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, Sir. I regret that I shall have to tell the Staffordshire local education authority and the excepted district that I am unable to approve any additions to the 1956–57 school building programme for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Minister not aware that this announcement has already shocked the members of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Education Committee, which has put up three projects as an absolute minimum for this year's programme? He has granted only one. Does he not know that this will lead inevitably to an increase of overcrowding and to insuperable difficulties for education authorities?

Sir D. Eccles

I am always willing to look at these things, but the Staffordshire programme for 1956 to 1957 is nearly £1,500,000, and I think it is doing very well, within what is an expanded programme for the country as a whole.