§ 11. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will allocate increased funds for the primary school building programme of Derbyshire for 1972–73.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMy right hon. Friend has been able to add a third school to Derbyshire's primary improvement programme for 1972–73, which now totals over £200,000 compared with £140,000 in 1971–72.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that information, bearing in mind that every little helps in this problem, he will appreciate that there was a very severe cut in the allocation for the 1971–72 programme and that, although this increase is welcome, it is to be hoped that he will do his utmost to increase the allocation for 1972–73, in view of the enormous amount of primary school rebuilding necessary in Derbyshire, where there are more than 180 schools which were built in Victorian times.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI am aware of the general problem that my hon. Friend has set out and of the very powerful personal representations that he has been making. The 1973‴74 programme from the authority is now being considered. Of course I can give no undertaking, but I know that my right hon. Friend will bear closely in mind the arguments to which the House has just listened.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that even this increased allocation, which I believe is about £50,000, merely brings up the sum for the replacement 1880 of primary schools to about £200,000, which is less than half of the last allocation made by the outgoing Labour Government?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe hon. Gentlemen is, helpfully, simply repeating the figures which I gave for the 1972–73 allocation. However, he is wrong. As I said earlier, it compares with £140,000 in 1971–72.
§ Mr. Edward ShortWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that Derbyshire and other high-growth counties have considerable problems? Bedfordshire is another similar county, where the greater part of the building programme for many years has gone in providing basic needs—roofs over heads. There are new areas with very good schools, but there are old areas with old, outworn, decrepit schools. Will the hon. Gentleman see whether he can give further allocations to counties such as Derbyshire?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThere can be no further allocation in the programme for 1972–73. It would not be right to mislead the right hon. Gentleman or anyone else on that point. It is precisely the kind of argument which the right hon. Gentleman has adduced which leads to a very careful consideration of the proposals for 1973–74.