§ 13. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now reconsider the 1965–66 financial arrangements for the schools minor works programme in order to give greater assistance to authorities such as Bristol proceeding with progressive schemes of educational redevelopment.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo, Sir. These arrangements are necessary in order to secure a fair distribution of resources among local education authorities throughout the country.
§ Mr. PalmerWill my hon. Friend bear in mind the importance of giving progressive and farsighted education authorities such as Bristol which are proceeding with comprehensive education the maximum financial support?
§ Mr. PrenticeYes, Sir. The amount of allocation made for minor works programmes under all Governments for a very long time has, unfortunately, been only a fraction—approximately a third or 1542 less—of the bids made by authorities. This applies whether the authorities are progressive or otherwise. We shall be doing as much as we can in this direction in future.
§ Sir E. BoyleWill the hon. Gentleman agree that, despite the very high level of school improvements during the last 10 years, we on this side have never denied that a high level of improvement work still needs to be done? Will the hon. Gentleman consistently give priority to this rather than going hell-for-leather for imposing comprehensive schools all over the country?
§ Mr. PrenticeIn the view of the Government, we need to do a great deal more about the state of our school buildings and bring in these overdue reforms in secondary education. The two aims are not conflicting. They must proceed on a complementary basis.
§ Mr. Robert CookeWill the hon. Gentleman shut out of his mind the remarks of his hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) about this scheme for helping comprehensive schools? This is a vital matter concerning the spending of local money on small improvements which Labour Members complain are not being done.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo, Sir; I will not shut out of my mind the remarks of my hon. Friend. The comprehensive plans of the Corporation of Bristol to reorganise its secondary education were approved by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary when he was Secretary of State for Education and Science. They seem to be good schemes and they have the support of the Department.