HC Deb 14 March 1957 vol 566 c1300
30. Major Beamish

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the approximate cost of providing one new place in State schools in the financial year 1949–50; what he estimates will be the approximate cost in this finacial year, giving these figures as actual figures, and at constant prices and what has been the total saving to the taxpayers and ratepayers resulting from the economies that have been made in this field since the General Election of 1950.

Sir E. Boyle

The average cost of a primary and secondary school place in 1949 was £195 and £324, respectively. The average during 1956 was about £150 and £260, respectively. The progressive reduction in cost per place has saved the taxpayer and the ratepayer about £85 million without taking into account the general rise in building costs. If that also were taken into account the saving could be described as about £200 million.