HC Deb 07 May 1964 vol 694 cc1442-3
24. Mr. J. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the reconstruction of the 19th century Woodford Green Primary School.

Mr. Chataway

It was not possible to include this project in the school building programme for 1965–67. My right hon. Friend will be considering it sympathetically for the 1967–68 programme.

Mr. Harvey

While I am glad to have that assurance, may I ask whether my hon. Friend is aware that the encouraging figures he has suggested for Essex as a whole are not reflected in the urban areas of Essex now incorporated in the Greater London area? Is he aware that this particular school was built in 1820 and that the amount of money spent in patching it up might by now have gone a long way to provide a new school?

Mr. Chataway

I am aware of the condition of this particular school about which my hon. Friend has written to the Department previously, but we must have regard to the priorities chosen by Essex itself——

Mr. Ross

May we take it that the ones to which priority has been given are worse than this one?

Mr. Chataway

—and a large number of replacements. Within the very large programme for the country of £80 million announced for the coming year, there is approximately £50 million for new needs and £30 million for replacements.