§ 32. Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the Government's recent policy for greater utilisation of school buildings, what is now his Department's policy regarding applications for larger car parks to be provided with new schools.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI cannot increase the allowances for car parking included in capital allocations for school buildings. Where the public use school facilities outside school hours, at weekends or during holidays, the school car parks may be used. Where additional facilities for the public are provided by a local authority or voluntary body on a school site, any extra car parking requirements are usually financed from the same source.
§ Mr. FryIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, in many new schools, the existing car parks are totally inadequate for the staff and ordinary visitors? If the use of schools for extra curricular activities is to be encouraged, it is important, for safety reasons alone, that car parking should be provided.
§ Mr. ShortI agree that there is a need for car parks in new schools. The hon. Gentleman may not be aware of the scale, so perhaps I can give him two examples at random. For a primary school with 320 children, five spaces can be provided, and for a secondary school with 1,200, 23 spaces can be provided.