HC Deb 16 December 1965 vol 722 cc1449-50
31. Mr. Doughty

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum of money will be available for new school building in the county of Surrey in the years 1965 and 1966; and what was the sum spent for such building in 1964.

Mr. Redhead

£2.2 million of school building was started in the old Surrey county area in 1963–64, and £3.1 million in 1964–65. £2.7 million has been authorised for the new Surrey area in 1965–66.

Mr. Doughty

As we now have a smaller Surrey, does not that figure show a large reduction, particularly in the light of the growing number of schoolchildren there? Will the hon. Gentleman look at the figure again and see that it is increased?

Mr. Redhead

I do not agree with the hon. and learned Gentleman's conclusion, although I am aware of the growth of population in the county. A comparison with past years is misleading since there were the major boundary changes in April, to which he referred, which reduced the county's total school population by about one-third.