HC Deb 05 March 1970 vol 797 c608
23. Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total educational building programme in the current year; and what was the total for 1963–64.

Mr. Edward Short

The sums of £207 million and £139 million respectively in England and Wales including the universities.

Mr. Golding

I am grateful for that answer. Can my right hon. Friend assure us that this will make it possible very quickly to get on with the job and get rid of some very old schools such as we have in my constituency at Wolstanton and Silverdale?

Mr. Short

Yes, indeed. As I said in reply to a previous Question, we have had the enormous problem of an additional 250,000 children to cater for each year as well as great movements of population from the north to the south. We are now in a position to devote an increasing part of the building programme to replacement of old schools.