§ 15. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the provision of a junior school for the Thames View Estate, Barking, has been recommended repeatedly by the local education authority, and that, for the want of this school a large number of children from this estate must daily cross a dangerous by-pass road to attend schools at considerable distances from their homes; and why, in view of his statement in 1959 that this project had a strong claim for inclusion in the 1962–63 school building programme, it has now been excluded from that programme.
§ Sir D. EcclesYes, Sir. As the hon. Member knows, measures have been taken to meet the traffic dangers. I could not include the new school in the 1962–63 building programme because of the more pressing needs of other areas.
§ Mr. DribergIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the road danger is not the only reason for thinking that this school has a strong claim for inclusion in that programme? Another main factor in the argument is that the apparent surplus accommodation in other schools, on which I think the Minister relies to some extent, may also be temporary.
§ Sir D. EcclesI will look at the situation again, but it was very carefully considered when the programme was made up.