§ 30. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Education how many proposed new school buildings in the 1955 and 1956 programmes are being deferred; and what will be the effect of this on the programme for 1957.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe hon. Member will see from the Circular to Local Authorities of which I am sending him a copy that I cannot say how many projects it will be necessary for me to defer, nor for how long I shall have to defer them. This will largely depend on the progress which authorities can make with their programmes.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs the Minister aware that many projects are being deferred because essential building labour is being attracted into more profitable pursuits? Is it not the fact that the provision of many desirable school buildings is being pushed into the remote future as a result of this policy?
§ Sir D. EcclesThere is another Question on the Order Paper, Question No. 34, on this subject and if the hon. Gentleman will wait I will try to give the answer then.
§ 33. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Education by how much the school building programmes of local authorities were in arrears for each year from 1951–52 to 1955–56.
§ Sir D. EcclesWith permission, I will circulate the Answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SparksWould the right hon. Gentleman say in which of the years the greatest volume of arrears arose?
§ Sir D. EcclesYes, Sir; in the year 1951–52. As at 31st January, 1952, the volume of arreas was £36.7 million. With a larger programme today, at the corresponding date, 31st January, 1956, the table shows that the figure was £38.2 million.
§ Following is the Answer:
| MAJOR PROJECTS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS | ||
| VALUE OF PROJECTS WHICH HAD NOT RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL | ||
| — | —at end often months i.e. by 31st January | —at end of programme year i.e. by 31st March |
| £ million | £ million | |
| 1951–52 programme | ||
| —1952 | 36.7 | 36.0* |
| 1952–53 programme | ||
| —1953 | 13.9 | 2.6 |
| 1953–54 programme | ||
| —1954 | 16.3 | 2.7 |
| 1954–55 programme | ||
| —1955 | 23.5 | 5.3 |
| 1955–56 programme | ||
| —1956 | 38.2 | not yet known |
| * Estimated: as a part of the moratorium on school building no further approvals were given for the time being after February 5th, 1952. |
§ 34. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Education why the school building programmes of local authorities are in arrears for 1955–56.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe chief reasons are a shortage of professional staff in local authority offices to carry out the necessary preparatory work before building starts, and the heavy demand by all types of building upon available resources of labour and materials.
§ Mr. SparksIs not the most important reason for the deferment of these programmes the policy of postponement exercised by the Government since 1951?
§ Sir D. EcclesIt is that the programme has been enlarged at the same time as there has been a large expansion of work generally. I am sure that if we can space out the programme of the overloaded authorities, we shall get better results.
§ Mr. M. StewartHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the reasons advanced for these arrears by my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd), and what steps is he taking to deal with those causes?
§ Sir D. EcclesI am hopeful, as a result of the wise measures taken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that there will, in fact, not be such a load, particularly on architects and draughtsmen.