§ 8. Mr. Haleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the number of voluntary schools which have received approval for building in the current development plans of local authorities which have so far been approved, stating in terms of each denomination involved the estimated capital cost involved and the amount of Government grants.
§ Sir E. BoyleAs the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HaleWhile appreciating that, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that the Answer contains not only a number of figures but probably a number of difficulties? The economic policy of the Government has greatly affected this problem, and there are many matters to be discussed. Will he and his noble Friend consider receiving a deputation?
| NUMBER AND ESTIMATED COST OF VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS INCLUDED IN APPROVED POST-WAR BUILDING PROGRAMMES: ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THEIR COST FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS | ||||||
| Denomination | Number of projects included in programmes (a) | Estimated cost of col. (2) | Number of projects in col. (2) for which rant has been assessed (b) | Minister's grant assessed to date on projects in col. (4) | Grants payable by local education authorities in respect of special agreement schools | That part of the cost of col. (3) met by local education authorities |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) |
| £ million | £ million | £ million | £ million | |||
| Church of England | 72 | 5.6 | 49 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Roman Catholic | 354 | 28.1 | 127 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 3.5 |
| Others | 13 | 1.3 | 10 | 0.2 | 0.1 | — |
| NOTES: |
| (a) Includes all projects for voluntary aided and special agreement schools in approved post-war building programmes up to and including the 1956–57 programme, i.e. those which started or are due to start before October, 1957. |
| (b) These figures are substantially lower than those in column (2) because grant cannot be assessed until the necessary particulars, including firm estimates of cost, have been received. |
§ 9. Mr. Haleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to what extent site values and cost of site works and professional fees incurred in
§ Sir E. BoyleI should like to consult my noble Friend about that, but I am well aware of the interest which the hon. Member takes in these subjects.
§ Mr. P. BellMay I ask my hon. Friend two questions—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—one question in two parts? The first is about voluntary schools in the course of erection. Is my hon. Friend aware that the credit restrictions are jeopardising even those works being completed? The second is that there is a great fear that those schools which are planned but not started may lose their place and confirmation if they are not started. Can he give us an assurance that, if the credit restrictions make it necessary to postpone their building, they will not lose their permission or sanction for ultimately being built when the situation becomes better?
§ Sir E. BoyleThese questions, important as they are, carry us slightly beyond the Question on the Order Paper.
§ The following is the Answer:
§ building are computed in the total capital cost of voluntary schools to qualify for Government grant.
367§ Sir E. BoyleApproved expenditure by the promoters of new voluntary schools on providing the site and carrying out necessary site works is taken into account as part of the cost of providing the school where that cost is eligible for grant from the Minister or the local education authority. The same applies to professional fees reasonably incurred on the design or alteration of schools.
§ Mr. HaleI am much obliged. On the assumption that that Answer means something, I will read it at my leisure and try to find out what it means and then discuss the matter with the hon. Member.
§ Sir E. BoyleI think the hon. Member will find that it is an Answer very favourable to his Question.
§ Mr. LindgrenBefore any new grants are given for new schools, will the Parliamentary Secretary see that existing voluntary schools are brought up to normal decent standards?
§ Sir E. BoyleThat is a very different question from the one on the Order Paper.
§ 19. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the total value of Roman Catholic voluntary school building in course of erection and completed since 1947, including details of new schools for which no grant has been paid, and of minor building projects not included in the local education authorities' building programmes; and if he will give details of the total amount of grant which has been paid on all these projects under Sections 102, 103 and 104 of the Education Act, 1944, and under Section 1 of the Education Act, 1953, respectively.
§ Sir E. BoyleFigures are not available of grant-earning minor building projects carried out in Roman Catholic schools. I will send the hon. Member details of new schools on which no grant is payable as soon as they can be collected. As the answers to the other parts of the Question contain a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
| Roman Catholic major primary and secondary school projects included in approved building programmes. | |
| £ millions. | |
| Value of projects completed (by 30th September, 1956)(a) | 11.47 |
| Value of projects under construction (on 30th September, 1956)(a) | 7.64 |
| Grant paid under Education Acts, 1944 to 1953 (up to 30th December, 1956)(b) | |
| Section 102 | .42 |
| Section 103 | .40 |
| Section 104 | 1.88 |
§ Notes.—(a) Total figures include the cost of school meals and medical inspection facilities which is payable by the local education authority, and also the cost of special agreement schools towards which the authority may contribute from 50 per cent. to 75 per cent.
§ (b) Grant is paid by instalments both during and after the completion of building. The figures for grant are not therefore related year by year to those for capital expenditure.
§ 22. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether, in view of the fact that almost all the development plans of the local education authorities have now been approved, he is able to give a estimate of the total cost of Roman Catholic voluntary school proposals contained in these plans, indicating the basis on which this cost is calculated and showing whether the estimate takes into consideration such items as the cost of sites and site-works, and the normal professional fees of architects and quantity surveyors.
§ Sir E. BoyleMost development plans were drawn up some years ago. Since then much has changed, and they all relate to work to be carried out over a considerable period of years. My noble Friend will gladly consider with any of the denominations whether useful estimates can be prepared; but he does not think it can be done in the simple way suggested in the Question.