HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 cc1289-90
13. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Education how many Roman Catholic primary schools have been built, rebuilt, or substantially enlarged in the county of Essex during the past ten years; how many Roman Catholic primary schools in Essex fall seriously short of the minimum physical requirements laid down by his Department, being overcrowded and having inadequate sanitation and storage space and having no hall; and if he will publish in HANSARD lists of the schools in these categories, with the dates of building, rebuilding and substantial enlargement and the dates by which he expects that the inadequate and overcrowded schools will have been replaced.

Sir E. Boyle

Of the 37 Roman Catholic primary schools in Essex, 19 have been built, rebuilt or substantially enlarged in the last ten years. I will circulate a list of these in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The remainder fall short of the standards prescribed in the Standards for School Premises Regulations for a variety of reasons.

In January, 1963, 33 of the 37 schools contained one or more classes over the regulation size, but this overcrowding was not necessarily due to inadequate accommodation.

I am anxious to press on with the replacement of inadequate and overcrowded primary schools but cannot forecast the date by which this will be achieved.

The more detailed information asked for by the hon. Member cannot be produced without special inquiry by the local education authority.

Mr. Driberg

Is the right hon. Gentleman at least convinced by these comparative figures that the case for the rebuilding of St. Joseph's School, Barking, is a very strong one. Does he realise that it is now eight years since his predecessor said: This is just the kind of project that I would like to see go ahead as soon as there is some relaxation of the extreme pressure on the resources at my disposal"? Are we not now in a period of expansion?

Sir E. Boyle

The hon. Member has a Question later on the Order Paper about St. Joseph's School. Half of the 37 Roman Catholic primary schools have been built, rebuilt or enlarged over the last ten years. This surely is a sign that Roman Catholic needs in Essex are not being neglected.

Mr. Driberg

They are in Barking.

Following is the list:

School Date of opening after building or rebuilding, or of enlargement
Colchester, St. Thomas More 1954
Harwich, St. Joseph's 1955
Chelmsford, St. Pius X 1956
Braintree, St. Francis 1962
Canvey Island, St. Joseph's 1955
Basildon, St. Teresa's 1957
Brentwood, St. Helen's (Infants) 1960
Stanford-le-Hope, St. Joseph's 1955
Aveley, Holy Cross (Junior) 1957
Aveley, Holy Cross (Infant) 1956
Rainham, La Salette 1957
Upminster, St. Joseph's 1956
Loughton, St. John Fisher 1955
Harlow, St. Albans 1956
Harlow, Tye Green, Holy Cross 1960
Wanstead, Our Lady of Lourdes 1961
Romford, Harold Hill St. Ursula's (Infant) 1955
Romford, Harold Hill St. Ursula's (Junior) 1957
Romford, St. Patrick's 1960