HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 cc1385-7
1 and 2. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Education (1) what additional resources are now available to enable him to restore to the 1964–65 school building programme some or all of the projects recommended by the local education authorities but rejected by him; if he will circulate in HANSARD a list of the projects to be restored to this programme; and how many of those are in the County of Essex;

(2) if he is now able to restore to the 1964–65 programme some or all of the schools urgently needed in the Borough of Barking, which were removed by him from the list of projects recommended by the Essex County Council.

The Minister of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)

I shall shortly be letting local education authorities know of the additional projects which I can now include, in view of the increase of £5 million in the level of authorised starts for 1964–65.

I will send the hon. Member details of any such projects in Essex as soon as they are available. I am also considering the most convenient form of publicacation in HANSARD of details relating to school building.

Mr. Driberg

Since the right hon. Gentleman made his announcement about the extra resources that may be available in a written reply on a Friday, would he be good enough to say that he will try to make some announcement to the House orally before the Summer Recess, as this is the last occasion on which he will be reached at Question Time?

Sir E. Boyle

I apologise if the House thinks I was in any way discourteous. There was a convenient occasion for me to make a public announcement and I thought the House should have the information at the same time. There are difficulties about an oral statement as I may not be reached in Questions again, but I will certainly do my best to give the House full information.

Mr. Willey

Can the right hon. Member say what is the nature of the statement that he is going to make? Will it be a supplementary list of entirely new projects previously not approved amounting to £5 million which we shall add to the previous list of £42 million?

Sir E. Boyle

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has asked that question. I have already added to the £42½ million a number of supplementary projects to which I referred last Friday. The total value of the 1964–65 programmes will be £50 million, which is a little bigger than last year despite the fact that investment in higher education will be considerably up as well. I am considering in what convenient form I can give the House details of the projects that will be included and how I could summarisesome of the main features of the school building programmes for the five years covered by the 1958 White Paper.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Hamilton.

Mr. Driberg

On a point of order. With great respect, Mr. Speaker, I had two Questions down which were taken together. May I not have a second supplementary question?

Mr. Speaker

That is a strange doctrine. I do not think it adds to opportunities. I am sorry.