§ 3. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set up a cost investigation court in the Scottish Education Department to check on undue expense in achieving elegance in school building as in the earliest plans for Kirktonholme School, East Kilbride, and on extravagance of design as with the £550 mural at Duncanrigg Secondary School, also in the new town.
§ Mr. J. StuartI am satisfied that the existing system of control of cost of school building makes additional machinery such as my hon. Friend suggests unnecessary.
§ Mr. MaitlandIn thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware of what went on at Duncanrigg School, where about £550 was spent on a fantastic mural? Is he aware of the delay elsewhere, and is he satisfied that education is not being sacrificed to the aesthetic whims of a whole lot of officials.
§ Mr. StuartA simple and effective check upon costs is achieved by the permitted maximum per sq. ft. Within that maximum, education authorities have freedom to plan or design whatever they may think to be the best.