§ 44. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for Air when the new Service school for the children of Royal Air Force parents at Khormaksar and Steamer Point, Aden, will be completed; 1442 and what is his estimate of the total sum in fees which will have been paid to other schools by his Department up to that time, on account of the failure to provide sufficient places in Service schools.
Mr. WardNine classrooms should be ready for use by about May, 1960, and I expect the school to be finished by early 1961. I cannot give a close estimate of the total cost of reimbursing fees at private schools, but if expenditure continued at about the present rate the total from July, 1958, to the end of 1960 would be of the order of £12,000
§ Mr. SwinglerIs not this a shameful story of the sins of the Department being visited on the children? Is not it a fact that this school ought to have been started and completed two years ago and that no explanation why the school was not started in 1957 has been forthcoming from the Ministry? What is the reason why it has taken so long to construct these extra classrooms?
Mr. WardI thought I had already told the hon. Gentleman that we have twice had to restart our plans to incorporate the necessary improvements and to cater for a larger number of children than were originally planned for.