HC Deb 13 March 1969 vol 779 c1544
16. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase in the total school building programme he proposes to make between the years 1968–69 and 1969–70.

Mr. Edward Short

I recently announced increases amounting to £9.5 million in the 1969–70 starts programme. The total for that year is now £138.5 million compared with £129.8 million for 1968–69.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the changes which have been deferred in the schools ought to have been made years ago? If it is true to say that something should have been done in 1964, it means that it is very true to say that it should have been done in 1969.

Mr. Short

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. There are thousands of schools throughout the country which ought to have been pulled down years ago. There are 7,000 schools which were built before 1880. It is a pity that the Conservative Government did not deal with rather more. The present building programme is more than twice the building programme during the last year of the Conservatives.

Sir E. Boyle

If we are going to bandy figures about, can the right hon. Gentleman say how much the school roll, in particular the primary school roll, has gone up in recent years?

Mr. Short

The school roll is increasing by about 3 per cent. a year. All I am saying is that the building programme is twice as big as it was when the right hon. Gentleman left it.