HC Deb 17 April 1958 vol 586 cc325-6
5. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Education how many schools in the County Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne are housed in buildings below the standard required by his Department and how many children attend these schools.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Short

I am very sorry that the Minister has not that information, which surely could have been obtained from the local authorities. Is he aware that throughout my constituency all the schools are very old and dilapidated? Whilst I certainly welcome the new schools on the perimeter of the city, is not it about time that some money was spent on the older schools in which many thousands of children will be taught during the whole of their school life?

Mr. Lloyd

Of course, everybody is very keen to get on with the job to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but, at present, as I think he knows, the effort to cope with the bulge is so great that we cannot, at the moment, do much on the other front.

Mr. Short

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. My Question asked for some very simple figures which could surely have been obtained from the local authorities. The Minister said that they are not available. Am I not entitled to have those figures?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order for me. It is a matter between the hon. Gentleman and the Minister.