§ 48. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to announce his plans for the provision of the additional buildings and teachers which will be required for the raising of the school-leaving age in 1970.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mr. Edward Redhead)My right hon. Friend will shortly be notifying authorities of his plans for providing the buildings necessary for raising the school-leaving age. In addition, the fourteen-point programme for increasing the supply of teachers which my right hon. Friend announced in April 1965 is being kept under continuous review and progress will be reported from time to time. This programme, which is intended to reinforce the general staffing of the schools, should help them to accept the additional commitment of a higher leaving age and subsequently to resume progress towards better staffing standards and smaller classes.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my hon. Friend agree that that answer will give universal satisfaction, certainly in educational circles? Does it mean that there is a quite firm refusal to retreat from the decision to raise the school-leaving age in 1970 despite the economic circumstances that could possibly prevail at the time the decision has to be implemented?
§ Mr. RedheadMy right hon. Friend has recently made it clear publicly that such is the position.
§ Mr. LubbockIs the Minister aware that in the London Borough of Bromley, the expansion plans of the Stockwell College of Teacher Training have been severely hampered by the recent check? Will he look into this?
§ Mr. RedheadIf the hon. Member cares to put down a Question on that point, we will deal with it.