HC Deb 06 July 1961 vol 643 cc1639-40
24. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Education how many new school building projects for new housing estates in Essex have been disallowed by him in the past five years, and in such future programmes as have so far been approved.

Mr. K. Thompson

Of 115 projects for new housing estates proposed for major building programmes from 1956–57 to 1962–63, 102 have been included. Of the 13 projects not included, 7 turned out not to be urgently needed, and my right hon. Friend is considering the other 6 for future programmes.

Mr. Driberg

How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that Answer with his statement in this House on 1st June that provision of new school accommodation on new housing estates and new towns is an overriding and absolute priority to which we must devote the first of our resources year by year."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st June, 1961. Vol, 641, c. 582.] Surely his statement today represents a modification of that? In particular, why does the Minister keep on excluding the Thames View Estate from this provision?

Mr. Thompson

The answer to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question answers the first part. There is no urgent need for additional school buildings in that area which would give the priority the hon. Gentleman has referred to.

25. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Education if his attention has been called to the statement by the chairman of the sites and buildings committee of the Essex Education Committee, that it is increasingly difficult to get acceptable tenders for school-building projects because so much less important work is being done by Essex builders, and that the lowest of seven tenders received for the building of one new school was £15,000 higher than the expenditure approved for that project by his Department; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

Mr. K. Thompson

Yes, Sir. But if the project is the Aveley Mildmay Secondary School, a tender has now been accepted which is within the revised limit of cost approved to take account of increased labour costs.

Mr. Driberg

But is the hon. Gentlemen aware that the committee chairman on this occasion also said that things are constantly having to be left out of school buildings although they will only have to be put in later on, and that the whole situation about costs and tenders in Essex—and I expect elsewhere—has been reduced to chaos by a combination of Government meanness and contractors' avarice?

Mr. Thompson

I do not propose to follow the hon. Member along those lines of argument. We have no evidence whatever from any source in the country that the kind of conditions which he describes prevail. School building is going on at present at a rate never before achieved.