§ 8. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education how many new primary and secondary school buildings will be started in 1959–60, compared with 1957ߝ58 and 1958–59, respectively; and how many of these will be in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ Sir E. BoyleA total of 570 major school building projects started in 1957–58. About 600 are expected to start in 1958– and about 560 in the following year. The comparable figures for Newcastle-under-Lyme are one, one and three.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that this is a quite inadequate programme? Is it not a fact that in the last two years there has been a very serious drop in the number of primary and secondary schools under construction? As there is now unemployment in the building trade, is there not an overwhelming case for an immediate, substantial increase in the school building programme?
§ Sir E. BoyleI will give the hon. Member this encouraging figure about Newcastle-under-Lyme. The value of projects in the hon. Member's constituency is £34,000 for 1957–58, £36,000 for 1958–59 and £169,000 for 1959–60. There is some quite good news for his constituents.