§ 21. Mr. Martenasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether she will speed up the provision of primary school accommodation in the Caribbean islands.
§ Mrs. WhiteI share the hon. Member's concern and will do what I can to hasten the necessary improvements. But school improvements are normally financed from colonial development and welfare funds, and it is for each territorial Government to plan the spending of its allocation.
§ Mr. MartenI am grateful for that reply. Are the Government aware of the situation in which many primary schools in the Caribbean have 400 children, divided into 10 classes and educated in one room? Is the Minister aware that this is greatly retarding their education? Could we not put a much greater effort to help these very loyal and intelligent people?
§ Mrs. WhiteI share the hon. Gentleman's concern and I quite agree that the 1269 conditions in some of the schools are deplorable. An educational adviser and a public works engineer will be on the staff of the new Caribbean Division of the Overseas Development Ministry and I hope that they will be able to assist the islands' Governments in these matters.