§ 7. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a system of comprehensive education throughout England and Wales.
§ Mr. CroslandThe cost of this change cannot be isolated from other costs in a developing educational system.
§ Mr. KingBefore getting too deeply into this policy, would not the right hon. Gentleman do well to get more accurate estimates? On the building side alone, must not the cost amount to many tens of millions of pounds? Will not he at least consider whether the money could be better spent in providing more teachers and paying them increased salaries?
§ Mr. CroslandThe hon. Member ought to have some recollection of his more radical youth when he asks questions of this sort. As to the cost, we 796 shall be in a better position to make some estimate once the circular has gone out because, for the first time, we are asking local education authorities to submit plans based on the comprehensive principle. On the general point, in my view such cost as may arise to the nation from going comprehensive will be a great deal less than the cost to the nation, in terms of the waste of talent, that has followed from segregating children at 11-plus.
§ Sir E. BoyleCan the Minister give an assurance that when he is considering any further proposals for building programmes immediately ahead, projects designed purely to bring about reorganisation will not be given priority over further projects to replace primary schools, because many people feel that it is highly important to give priority to the latter purpose?
§ Mr. CroslandI certainly and gladly give that assurance. We have no intention that these plans should be at the cost of primary school building.