HC Deb 22 February 1967 vol 741 cc1705-6
21. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the provision of school places in Scotland; and what are the numbers in primary and secondary and further education places.

Mr. Millan

As the Answer includes a number of figures, I am circulating the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Hamilton

I thank my hon. Friend. Will he ensure that the necessary progress now going on will continue and that by 1970 we shall have sufficient places, while realising, of course, that the school leaving age will be raised that year? Can he give an assurance that the local authorities will use expediently the money allocated to them to build the schools so urgently required?

Mr. Milian

I am glad to say that the school building allocations for 1967–70 have been considerably increased compared with the present allocations and we are, of course, encouraging local authorities to take up these allocations as quickly as possible.

Mr. Younger

Will the hon. Gentleman comment on the drastic drop in the starts on school building last year as revealed in the Scottish Education's Department's Report? Is this not very distressing?

Mr. Milian

The hon. Gentleman is a year out of date because he is referring to the 1965 Report. When he sees the figures for 1966 he will not have the same cause for disappointment—if, indeed, it is disappointment that he is expressing.

Following is the information:

I. SCHOOL PLACES COMPLETED
Places completed*†
Primary‡ Secondary
1966 … … 24,153 30,184
1946–66 … … 374,471 350,194
* Including places in temporary accommodation.
† Including places provided in grant-aided schools in projects started before 1964.
‡ Including nursery places.
II. PUPILS AT SCHOOL IN JANUARY, 1966
Education Authority Grant-aided E.A.+G.A.
Primary* … 598,847 9,066 607,913
Secondary … 271,035 12,557 283,592
Total … 869,882 21,623 891,505
* Including nursery pupils.
III. STUDENTS IN FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES-SESSION 1965–66
Full time … … … … 17,709
Day release … … … … 53,476
Other part-time … … … … 80,302
Total … … … … 151,487