§ 36. Mr. du Cannasked the Minister of Education how many pupils he estimates will attend Huish's Grammar School, Taunton, in each of the next five years.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)The estimate is 490 in 1959, rising to just over 550 in 1963.
§ Mr. du CannIs my hon. Friend aware that the decision of the Minister not to permit the building of a new school during the year 1959–60—of which I heard only this morning—will be received with very great disappointment indeed in Taunton? The hon. Member knows how disappointed we all feel about this matter. In the name of common sense, will he be good enough to look at the matter again? When everyone knows that the premises are inadequate at the moment, how does he suppose that the school can deal with an increasing number of boys?
§ Sir E. BoyleI explained in the debate we had not long ago that my right hon. Friend cannot yet authorise the replacement of schools because their buildings are unsatisfactory. We are having to concentrate the school building programme on providing places for children who otherwise would not be in school at all.
§ Mr. M. StewartDoes the hon. Gentleman realise the great emphasis placed by members of his party in local elections on the replacing of unsuitable school buildings and the desirability of doing something to support the action taken by his party in this matter?
§ Sir E. BoyleThe position of the Government has been made plain on many occasions and is well known to the supporters of my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann).