§ 6. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Education what action has been taken by his Department upon the reports of Her Majesty's inspectors which comment adversely on the accommodation provided in individual schools.
§ Sir D. EcclesI send these reports to the authorities responsible for the 555 schools and I take into account the views of Her Majesty's inspectors when considering building proposals.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these reports call attention to the inadequacy of school accommodation—inadequacy with which the local authority is unable to deal because of the inadequacy of the Minister's permitted building programme? While Her Majesty's inspectors say "Forward", the Minister continually says "Backwards".
§ Sir D. EcclesI think that is somewhat unfair. Of course, we want the inspectors to point out all these deficiencies. That is the purpose of a full inspection report. But, at the same time, we are steadily increasing the annual totals of the building programme.
Mrs. SlaterDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in some cases these building defects have been pointed out time and again over several years? What action does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take, for instance, to help local authorities to remedy some of these serious defects and to push them into doing so if they refuse to take notice of the report?
§ Sir D. EcclesA local authority has a minor works allocation which it spends as it thinks fit on the projects most urgent. The best way that I can help local authorities is to see that they complete the building programmes which we give them.