24. Mr.W.H.K.Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further plans he has in mind to implement proposals set out in Scottish Education Department circular No. 600 Reorganisation of Secondary Education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MillanProgress towards the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines has in general been satisfactory. My right hon. Friend has now approved wholly or substantially the proposals submitted by all authorities in response to Circular 600, and he will continue to maintain close contact with them to help implement these proposals.
Mr. BakerHow can local authorities implement the policy which the right hon. Gentleman has laid down and 1302 approved if sufficient funds are not available for school building? Does the Minister realise that in the County of Banff there is a shortfall of well over £1 million in the school building programme in the next two years? How can this produce equality of opportunity in education in the county?
§ Mr. MillanI am delighted that the hon. Gentleman is asking me to press ahead even more rapidly with comprehensive reorganisation in his county.
§ Mr. MillanWhere it does make sense, as indeed it makes sense elsewhere. However, as the hon. Gentleman knows since he was present at the meeting I had with his authority on 31st October, there are problems of priority in school building. I hope that in this case we shall be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion with the authority, which has gone back to look again at its proposals.
§ Mr. MaclennanCan my hon. Friend say whether or not the school at Lairg in Sutherland will go ahead? The reorganisation of Sutherland's education on comprehensive lines may be understood by the Scottish Education Department, but it remains a mystery to the population of Sutherland.
§ Mr. MillanThe implementation of the scheme of reorganisation in Sutherland provided for a four-year junior high school at Lairg. My understanding is that that is still the position.
§ Mr. MacArthurIs the Minister aware that the secondary school building approvals this year have been cut by more than half, and that this drastic cutback in school building investment will not enable local authorities to meet the educational needs of 1972?
§ Mr. MillanI am sorry, but the hon. Gentleman is completely wrong. He will know that starts in 1968 were at a record level and in 1969 they continued at a high level, particularly for secondary schools. He will be delighted to hear that completions in 1959 are also running at a very high level.