§ 16. Mr. Steeleasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply has been sent to the petition he received from the 1227 Hermitage School Parent Teacher Association regarding the postponement of building the new Hermitage Academy.
§ Mr. NobleI have already sent the hon. Member a copy of my reply to the Association. I told them that the Education Authority had put the case very fully to me and I assured them that the claims of this school would stand high if circumstances should enable me to approve further starts this financial year.
§ Mr. SteeleWould the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Civil Lord of the Admiralty has yet had the discussions with him that he promised that he would have following the Admiralty decision to lease Faslane as a base and the announcement that 900 children will have to be provided for in school accommodation? Can the right hon. Gentleman also say whether the £25 million to be spent on this base includes money for the provision of school accommodation, or whether this will have to come from the Secretary of State's Vote? In view of the new situation which has arisen, will this school not now be begun very quickly?
§ Mr. NobleThe money will have to come out of the funds which I allocate and not from the Admiralty. I have discussed this problem with the Civil Lord, and it is largely because of this extra commitment that I realise how important this school is to the area.
§ Mr. SteeleWhen is it going to start?