§ 29. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what specific provisions he is making to meet the cost in the current year of the introduction of comprehensive secondary education.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have been able to make available in the 1969–70 school building programme a total of over £10 million for projects specifically to help reorganisation. In addition, all other secondary projects within the total programme will contribute to comprehensive reorganisation as well as meeting the essential needs of new school places and, in some cases, the replacement of substandard schools.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs it not a fact that to introduce comprehensive secondary education nationally on a proper and satisfactory basis in the right buildings would cost a very large sum of money indeed, and is it not nonsense for the right hon. Gentleman to threaten legislation to make this compulsory on local authorities unless and until he is prepared to provide the money?
§ Mr. ShortI do not accept the premise on which that question is based. We are introducing comprehensive education on a satisfactory basis. I am not threatening to introduce a Bill. I am going to introduce a Bill. There is no threat about that.
§ Mr. MolloyWill my right hon. Friend acknowledge that hon. Gentlemen opposite were not interested in school building until the question of comprehensive education arose? Will he not fall into the trap of saying that we cannot have any form of comprehensive education unless we can spend multi-millions on providing the buildings first? That ought not to be the reason for having comprehensive education thwarted by the Conservative Party.
§ Mr. ShortThe Conservative Party is willing to use any argument or any means to preserve selective secondary education.