§ 32. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now give the starting date for a secondary school at Garrowhill, Lanarkshire; when it will be ready for occupation; and whether the approved plans provide for a swimming pool.
Mr. Edward TaylorThe education authority now plans to start this project in October, 1971, and hopes to complete it in time for session 1973–74. The sketch plans do not include a swimming pool, but the authority now proposes to provide pools at this and two other secondary schools and has asked for a meeting to discuss the matter.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I met 254 of my constituents 1371 concerning this problem? I am happy to hear from him that it was in the initial stages the Scottish Office which denied local authorities the right to build swimming pools; this caused a great deal of concern as all the previous schools have swimming pools.
Mr. TaylorSwimming pools are expensive. We want to avoid undue duplication of facilities. In view of the authority's new move, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that whatever representations it makes will be very carefully considered.