§ 3. Mr. Swinglerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he will now consider the enlargement of the current school building programme in view of the increasing overcrowding in secondary schools.
§ Sir E. BoyleMy noble Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. SwinglerNow that we have another "new look" in Curzon Street, will the hon. Member and his noble Friend take a new look at the school building programme? Is he aware that for many years now it has lagged behind the basic needs of the children? In many parts of the country, especially Newcastle-under-Lyme, skilled building workers are unemployed as a result of the cut in the house building programme, and will he therefore take the opportunity of enlarging the school building programme?
§ Sir E. BoyleMy noble Friend is fully aware of the increasing pressure on the secondary schools and is at present carefully examining the size of the school building programme.
§ 4. Mr. Swinglerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if all the projects which were included in the 1955–56 school building programme have now been started.
§ Sir E. BoyleOn 31st December last, 80 of these projects had not been started.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill the Parliamentary Secretary take this into account in taking a look at the school building programme? Will he make sure that what happened last year, when one-third of the building programme could not be started, will not happen again, and will he plan a programme to ensure that the building resources are available?
§ Sir E. BoyleI am sure that my noble Friend will keep in mind what the hon. Member has said. It is only fair to point out that 250 of the projects in the 1955–56 programme, which did not start by 31st March last year, had been started by 31st December.
§ Sir J. CrowderWill my hon. Friend do his best to keep down the cost per place, which seems to rise every year?
§ Sir E. BoyleI think my hon. Friend is a little pessimistic.