HC Deb 19 November 1959 vol 613 cc1313-4
4. Mr. Brockway

asked the Minister of Education what contribution his Department is making to the cost of enlarging and equipping dining room and kitchen of the Slough technical school.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

The authority had underestimated the number of children taking dinners. The whole cost of the extension will be met by my Department.

Mr. Brockway

But is not it the case that in its original plan for this building the authority included an extended dining room and kitchen, and that it was the economy policy of the Government which caused its reduction? Is not the fact that an extension is now being made an example of the stupidity of the economy policy of the Government?

Mr. Thompson

The hon. Member has not got his facts right. When the school was built the size of the dining room accommodation was not reduced by my Department.