HC Deb 10 June 1971 vol 818 cc1219-20
26. Mr. O'Halloran

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further discussions she has had with the Inner London Education Authority with regard to primary schools in the North Islington area, with a view to bringing them up to standards required by pupils, teachers and parents.

16. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent proposals she has received from the Inner London Education Authority concerned with the need to ensure that, in areas where new housing developments are taking place, in which many young children will be living, additional places will be available at schools; and what decision she has come to.

Mrs. Thatcher

None, Sir. I am awaiting the authority's proposals for the 1973–74 school building programme.

Mr. O'Halloran

I thank the right hon. Lady for her reply, but is she aware that the proposed extension to St. John's Church of England school at The Archway at a cost of £38,000 has been axed by her Department, having been previously sanctioned by her predecessor? Can she give an explanation?

Mrs. Thatcher

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a specific Question on that, I will answer it, but in fact the authority made no proposals for primary schools in Islington for the 1972–73 programme.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Could that have been because the authority was at that time Tory controlled, as the Department is at the moment?

Mrs. Thatcher

No. This would come under the Inner London Education Authority.

Mr. Lewis

That was Tory-controlled.

Mrs. Thatcher

The 1972–73 programme was settled by the present Government.

31. Mr. O'Halloran

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged seven to 11 years are attending primary schools in the Inner London Education Authority area.

Mrs. Thatcher

In January, 1970, the latest date for which figures are as yet available in the Department, there were 152,000 pupils aged seven to 11 in primary schools maintained by the Inner London Education Authority.