HC Deb 26 January 1966 vol 723 cc196-7
20. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the survey by the Council of British Ceramic Sanitaryware Manufacturers, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will undertake a crash programme to make out-of-date school lavatories hygienic.

Mr. Ross

This is a matter for education authorities. They are required to obtain reports from their medical officers on sanitary arrangements and are free to make improvements costing less than £5,000 in each case without any reference to me.

Mr. Dalyell

Might not a circular be of some use? Does my right hon. Friend accept the revelations in the report of pupils not going to the toilet until the end of school because the toilets are so nauseating?

Mr. Ross

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the report covers the whole of the United Kingdom. It is a large report and it gives some credit to certain Scottish local authorities. It does not specifically point to any complaints within Scotland which cannot adequately be met by the local authorities, and I have no reason to suppose that they are not aware of any such conditions that may exist.