§ 30. Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the special building allocations for educational priority areas are not being continued beyond 1969–70.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe special two-year programme was a valuable first step in dealing with the problem. But for the future I prefer that as much as can be spared from all the resources for school building be devoted to such areas.
§ Mr. MontgomeryIs the Minister satisfied that more could not be done for educational priority areas?
§ Mr. ShortMy right hon. Friend has just pointed out that the school building programme is now about twice as big as it was in the last year of Conservative government. Obviously the educational priority areas are getting a very fair share of that very large building programme.
§ Sir E. BoyleAs the right hon. Gentleman has twice said that about the building programme, will he acknowledge that the last programme that we authorised complete was the 1965–66 programme, and that the improvement element was considerably greater in that programme than in the last programme which the right hon. Gentleman has authorised
§ Mr. ShortIn 1964–65 the school building programme was £82 million. In 1971–72 it will be £169.5 million.
§ Sir E. BoyleWhat about 1965–66?