HC Deb 06 May 1965 vol 711 cc1544-5
19. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what way provision of classrooms, showers and toilets and other accommodation at Northam Primary School falls short of the standards laid down by his department.

Mr. Prentice

I understand from the Devon authority that the teaching area of the school is 484 sq. ft. below the minimum standard. The school is short of five washbasins and there is no supply of warm water. The school has no staff room. The site is below the minimum size and there is no suitable playing field. There is no requirement for showers in a primary school.

Mr. Mills

Though not to blame for these conditions, does not the Minister bear a heavy responsibility because nothing is being done about it now?

Indeed, is not the future even bleaker under a Socialist Government?

Mr. Prentice

That supplementary question was rather unfortunate because, had I been asked, I should have said that if the authority puts this into its revised bids for what remains of the 1967–68 programme, we should consider it carefully and sympathetically.