§ 19. Mrs. Fennerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make more finance available for primary schools in Rochester and Chatham for minor works improvements in next year's programme.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI have increased Kent's minor works allocation from £808,000 this year to £876,000 next year. This is mainly because of the need for extra school places, but the local education authority can decide how much of their allocation should go to the improvement of old county and controlled primary schools in Rochester and Chatham.
§ Mrs. FennerI thank my right hon. Friend for her reply and her determination on priority for improvements in primary schools. I remain concerned about the increasing financial burden for building provision in aided primary schools. I know that my right hon. Friend will not wish to limit this important denominational aspect of parental choice. Will she review the system of support for aided schools?
§ Mrs. ThatcherI note what my hon. Friend said. At present I have no such review in mind, but I am receiving a number of representations about it.