Friarswood School, Newcastle-under-Lyme

HC Deb 19 December 1963 vol 686 c1414

10. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education if he will include the replacement of Friarswood School, Newcastle-under-Lyme, in the school building programme forthwith.

Sir E. Boyle

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 24th October.

Mr. Swingler

Is not this a crass example? Does not the Minister's Department admit that this school, which is more than 130 years old, is totally obsolete? Is it not a shocking scandal that teachers and children should be compelled to go on trying to make use of such hopeless buildings and equipment? Cannot the Minister do something urgently, because here is a case where primary education cannot advance in such conditions?

Sir E. Boyle

On 11th July, I undertook to the hon. Member to look sympathetically at any project to replace this school which the authority might submit with a high priority for the 1965–66 programme. If I remember rightly, this was the runner-up last year in Staffordshire for a replacement project. It is up to the authority to give it a high priority in submitting its list for future years.