§ 3. Mr. Benceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children aged five years are receiving part-time education in Clydebank and Kirkintilloch; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mrs. Judith Hart)None in Clydebank; 56 in Kirkintilloch, all of whom are beginners in the primary department of one school. The authority is seeking additional staff required to bring part-time education to an end.
§ Mr. BenceMy information is that in the Burgh of Clydebank a considerable number of primary school children are receiving only part-time education, and as we had under the previous Administration very savage cuts in our school building programme, would my hon. Friend take emergency steps to see that by prefabrication we can get accommodation so that these children may have full-time education?
§ Mrs. HartI understand that at the beginning of the session there was one class of beginners at Clydebank having part-time education. I think the difficulty is largely shortage of staff rather than 1522 shortage of accommodation. We are looking very closely at all the means we can take to increase staff.