§ 18. Sir Richard Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Education what was the cost in 1961 of providing a new school place compared with 1951, taking into account increased building costs.
§ Mr. ChatawayAbout £120 for a primary school place and about £210 for a secondary school place, compared with £135 and £242 in 1951.
§ Sir Richard PilkingtonWill my hon. Friend see that all concerned are congratulated upon this very welcome piece of Government economy?
§ Mr. ChatawayYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SwinglerIn view of the satisfactory reduction in the cost of places, will the Minister now consider enormously increasing the number of places to be provided and expand the programme accordingly?
§ Mr. ChatawaySince 1951, there has, I think, been just as dramatic a rise in that respect as there has been a decline in the other.
§ Dr. KingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, while the economies have been partly the result of tremendously improved efficiency in the building industry and the work of his own Ministry, part of them is due to cutting back essential features in school construction? Will he consider very carefully the possibility of replacing some of the features which were cut out in the course of economies in many of the new schools which have lately been built?
§ Mr. ChatawayI think that the known respect in international circles for school building in this country belies what the hon. Gentleman has said.
§ Mrs. WhiteIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that, although it is true that 1386 excellent work has been done in many ways by the Architect's Department, what my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Dr. King) has said is true also? Cuts have been made, for instance, in corridors, stairs and so forth, with the result that the time taken by children to change from one classroom to another has been very much increased because there is not enough space in the building. Does the hon. Gentleman realise that there are schools where economies have been achieved partly at the cost of speed of mobility?
§ Mr. ChatawayWhen criticisms are made, they are very rapidly brought to our attention by Her Majesty's inspectorate, and action is quickly taken upon them.