§ 6. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has obtained from local education authorities of the cost of bringing existing primary schools in England and Wales up to the standards envisaged in the Plowden Report.
§ Mr. CroslandNone, Sir. But the Plowden Council itself estimated the cost for England at between £50 million and £70 million.
§ Mr. OnslowDoes the Minister reject that figure? Has he taken any steps to correct it? Is he aware that in Surrey alone this amounts to £10 million? What priority, if any, does he give to implementing this Report?
§ Mr. CroslandWhat priority, if any, can be demonstrated by the fact that under this Government a substantially higher proportion of major school building will be spent on primary schools than was the case with the previous Government; that this Government has spent more on primary school building replacements and improvements than the previous Government, and that only a few days ago my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio announced that another £16 million would be devoted to the Plowden educational priority areas.