§ 14. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if he will now approve an enlargement of the school-building programme for Newcastle-under-Lyme for 1960–61 and 1961–62, so as to include more of the projects put forward by the local education committee and take special account of the 5 per cent. fall in the last five years in the proportion of Newcastle-under-Lyme children for whom grammar places have been available.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. I have already approved the only one of the projects put forward for Newcastle-under-Lyme which would increase grammar school accommodation.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile thanking the Minister for including that one, may I ask if he is aware that the Newcastle-under-Lyme Education Committee has put forward only the most urgent projects required year by year for the next three or four years? I think I am right in saying that less than half of them have been approved by his Ministry, which has cut the proposals by 50 per cent. As that programme is clearly inadequate, will not it lead to a further aggravation of the overcrowding in secondary schools?
§ Sir D. EcclesI think there are some other grammar schools which are going up at Biddulph, Cheadle and Kidsgrove 1322 that will assist to remedy the difficulties in the hon. Gentleman's district.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhat about the secondary modern schools?