HC Deb 25 June 1959 vol 607 cc1381-3
29. Mr. Denzil Freeth

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now fulfil the undertaking, given in his letter of 20th May, 1959, to include the new school at Goodworth Clatford in the Hampshire County Council's programme for 1960–61.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

This school been included in the Hampshire Local Education Authority's building programme for 1961–62. I am sorry that the wrong year was quoted in a recent letter to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Freeth

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his apologies, may I ask whether he is aware that this is, quite frankly, not enough? The facilities for primary education in the villages of Goodworth and Upper Clatford are totally unsatisfactory, they have been so for the last fourteen years, and the rebuilding of this bombed school has been held up, admittedly by factors outside the responsibility of my right hon. Friend. Further, is he aware that hopes were raised by the Parliamentary Secretary's letter of 20th May, and that they will now have been dashed? Will my right hon. Friend see if it is possible to include the school in the year which his hon. Friend gave in his letter of 20th May? Otherwise it will be difficult in these villages to maintain the confidence of the parents or teachers in my right hon. Friend and his Ministry.

Mr. Lloyd

The essential thing is that in practice the authority can go ahead with plans for the school, and although it has not been included in the programme for 1960–61, it has been included in the programme for 1961–2.

Dr. King

Is the Minister aware that he has placed the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Denzil Freeth) in an impossible position and bitterly disappointed the parents in this part of the county by informing the hon. Gentleman that the school was to be included in the 1960–61 programme at the time when he was informing the members of the Hampshire Education Committee that it was in the 1961–62 programme? Is not the only honourable thing to do to stand by his promise to his hon. Friend?

Mr. Lloyd

I am afraid it was less a mistake of policy than almost a typing mistake and I cannot alter the policy.

Mr. Freeth

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.