HC Deb 03 May 1962 vol 658 cc1175-6
4. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Education why he has approved only 12 of the 23 schemes submitted by the London County Council for its school building programme in 1963–64.

Sir D. Eccles

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 19th April.

Mr. Lipton

While thanking the Minister for that reply, does he not consider it quite criminal, at one and the same time, to cut down and split up London's fine educational service? Why should the whole future of scores of thousands of London school children be sacrificed to this Government's vendetta against the L.C.C.? Is the Minister aware that, as far as London is concerned, he is now regarded as education public enemy No. 1?

Sir D. Eccles

That is quite a different question, and if the hon. Gentleman will wait a couple of hours he will get the answer.

Mr. Willey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that parents in the Central London area are thoroughly dismayed at the Government's policy, and, further, that the reply to which he referred was thoroughly misleading? Is he also aware that the Government are cutting the school building programme by £9 million compared with the current programme, which in present circumstances is absolutely disastrous?

Sir D. Eccles

I think I gave the full reason on a previous occasion why the school building programme is allocated as it is now, and those reasons really are for the sake of efficient planning.

Mr. Awbery

Is the Minister aware that he is now making it a custom to ask local authorities what are their educational needs for the year, and then cutting those needs by 50 per cent.? What is the use of asking authorities what they need if, every time, the Minister is going to decide to cut down the figure? Is he aware that it is asking authorities to double their demands so that when the Minister has cut them down the authorities will still get what they need?

Sir D. Eccles

It would be quite easy for me to allocate a total sum to local authorities straight away. But it is much more sensible to ask what they want and then I can compare the priorities of one area with those of another.