HC Deb 31 July 1958 vol 592 cc1575-6
28. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that adequate science laboratory accommodation exists in less than 10 per cent. of maintained grammar schools; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the situation.

Sir E. Boyle

My right hon. Friend does not accept the hon. Member's assumption, but he has approved a large number of building proposals which will continue the steady improvement of science accommodation at these schools.

Mr. Prentice

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to a recent survey, carried out by the National Union of Teachers and three other organisations, published in the current issue of the School Science Review, in which the schools themselves have given the figure of less than 10 per cent. of schools having adequate science laboratories and in which they say, further, that when building projects which are under way are completed only about 16 per cent. of the schools will have adequate science laboratories?

Sir E. Boyle

I have noticed that article. The same survey pointed out, however, that 44 per cent. of the schools had science accommodation conforming with the suggestion made in the Ministry of Education's buildings bulletin. It should not be forgotten that extensions to science accommodation at over 100 grammar schools have been approved for the 1958–59 and 1959–60 building programmes. I quite agree with the hon. Member, however, that we certainly should not be content as yet.

Mr. Albu

Do not the figures given the other day indicate that the amount granted for State-aided schools is much less than that being granted by the Industrial Fund for fee-paying schools?

Sir E. Boyle

In my view, the hon. Member, who asked a Question last week, slightly exaggerates the point. My recollection is that the corresponding figures for the same period are £2 million for the maintained schools and about £2¾ million provided by the Industrial Fund. The disproportion is not quite so great as the hon. Member implied in his Question last week.

29. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Education why the regulations issued by his Department allow lower minimum standards for science laboratories in girls' grammar schools than in boys' grammar schools.

Sir E. Boyle

My right hon. Friend's regulations make no such distinction. They lay down standards for the teaching area as a whole, not for laboratories taken separately.

Mr. Prentice

Is the Minister aware that in the survey in the School Science Review it is claimed by those making the survey that one of the reasons for the small proportion of girls taking science subjects in the sixth form compared with boys is the lower standard of accommodation? Will the hon. Gentleman look carefully at this position in view of the fact that we need so many more scientists and that girls' schools ought to provide a larger proportion of them?

Sir E. Boyle

I am on record in this House on many occasions as having stressed the importance of girls playing a larger part in our national scientific and technological effort.