School Building

HC Deb 11 March 1964 vol 691 cc413-5

12. Mr. Bence

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates for school building were submitted to him by Dunbarton education authority for the years 1963–64 and 1964–65, respectively; and what financial allocations were granted.

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Michael Noble)

I approved the starting of schools to the value of £1.4 million in 1963–64 of which the authority has so far started £0.9 million worth. Its estimate was £2.9 million. For 1964–65 I expect very shortly to give formal approval to the authority's estimate of £1.3 million.

Mr. Bence

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a result of the cut-back in 1963–64 the position in Dunbartonshire is serious and that hundreds of children aged 5 will get no education until they are 5½ or 5¾? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman provide some temporary buildings in the county, in the new town of Cumbernauld, in Kirkintilloch and on Clyde Bank, so that these children can start their education at the proper time? The situation there is extremely serious.

Mr. Noble

I know of the problems of which the hon. Gentleman has spoken. It is significant that, although there was a cut in what the authority demanded last year, in fact it started only £0.9 million out of £1.4 million given to it. The problem of temporary classrooms for Cumbernauld is under consideration with my Department and we shall do the best that we can to help.

19. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of the school building programme applied for by Lanarkshire Education Authority for 1964–65; and what was the actual value of the programme approved by his Department.

Mr. Noble

The authority was given in October a provisional allocation of £1.75 million as a basis for their 1964–65 programme, but the programme submitted by in envisaged starts to the value of £3.2 million. I have approved a programme of £2.1 million.

Mr. Dempsey

Is the Secretary of State not ashamed to give a reply of that nature? Does he realise the serious effect that the cut-down in the school building programme is having in Lanarkshire and in Coatbridge and Airdrie? Is he aware that hundreds of St. Augustine's children are being accommodated in a school which was condemned in 1932 and that we have nearly 300 children with no school at all residing in the Showhead area? Is he further aware that Airdrie High School is using accommodation which was condemned 40 years ago and that in St. Patrick's High School, Coatbridge, the appalling conditions are almost indescribable. Will not he reverse this policy and authorise the Lanarkshire Education Authority to proceed with new schools for these children immediately?

Mr. Noble

I am very well aware of the general situation in Lanarkshire because the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Lady have spoken to me about it. It is because of this that the allocation for Lanarkshire is so high in relation to the rest of Scotland.

Mr. Fraser

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he published a White Paper on Central Scotland a little while ago in which he told the House that he was doing his utmost to stimulate local authorities into encouraging a great increase in infrastructure, which means, among other things, the building of schools? Does he regard as encouraging this allocating to Lanarkshire of two-thirds of the capital expenditure which it believes that it could incur in building up schools in this area?

Mr. Noble

The problem of these allocations, as I explained fairly regularly to the House last year when the problem was also acute, is not only the question of the money but of the resources. Lanarkshire, has been very forward in some of its new building techniques, and it is because of this that I have been able to give it as much as I have, and it will be able to complete the £2.1 million.

Mr. Fraser

Is the Secretary of State aware that Scotland has twice the unemployment figure of the United Kingdom and Lanarkshire twice the unemployment figure of Scotland, and Lanarkshire would appear therefore to have the resources?

Mr. Noble

In the skilled building trades necessary for this, the resources in Scotland are even today extremely scarce.