HC Deb 29 July 1964 vol 699 cc1410-1
20. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he approved the sketch plans for the rebuilding of Govan High School which was badly damaged by fire two years ago; and if he will inquire into the reasons which are delaying the production of detailed plans for the new school.

Mr. Noble

I approved sketch plans in July, 1963. I understand that subsequent planning work has proceeded in accordance with Glasgow education authority's schedule and that the new school will be ready to start in May next year, the date indicated in the authority's programme.

Mr. Rankin

Does the Secretary of State realise that he has told only half the story? Is he aware that the pupils of Govan High School have for the last two years been attending another school which was regarded as obsolete for educational purposes many years ago and whose pupils are now housed in a beautiful new school? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the real stumbling block to the progress of building the new buildings for Govan High School has been the Secretary of State for Scotland, with whom he should be familiar, because the Secretary of State has cut the grant for school building purposes in Glasgow from £5 million to £2½ million? Will the right hon. Gentleman guarantee today that the new Govan High School will be occupied by pupils next May, as he has just said?

Mr. Noble

Even in response to the hon. Gentleman I cannot guarantee to give the whole story in answer to every Question. The hon. Gentleman is inaccurate in thinking that the hold-up on Govan High School has anything to do with cuts in the educational programme, because the local authority has never at any time suggested to me that this school could be ready for starting before early 1965. In addition, the hon. Gentleman may remember that it was only in the last two months of the financial year 1963–64 that Glasgow was ready to start the projects comprising the major part of its capital allocation for that year.