HC Deb 13 April 1972 vol 834 cc1417-8
15. Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been spent on building new primary schools in Northamptonshire since 1st July, 1970.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Payments made to contractors as reported by the local education authority up to 31st December. 1971, totalled £468,000.

Sir G. de Freitas

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that by insisting that I ask a Question about the whole of Northamptonshire, which includes many other constituencies than my own, instead of a Question about my constituency of Kettering, he has deliberately concealed the fact that the Government have done almost nothing to relieve overcrowding in my constituency?

Mr. van Straubenzee

There must be some misunderstanding.

Sir G. de Freitas

None at all.

Mr. van Straubenzee

The Question asks how much money has been spent in Northamptonshire.

Sir G. de Freitas

The hon. Gentleman refuses to answer.

Mr. van Straubenzee

With respect, that is what I have answered and I can answer only Questions relating to local education authorities.

Mr. Fry

As a Member for a Northamptonshire constituency which perhaps has the fastest growing school population, may I congratulate my hon. Friend on putting right the priorities in education and on concentrating on primary school places, a course for which many people are grateful? Will he continue to keep priorities right and not be dragged into any half-baked schemes for secondary reorganisation?

Mr. van Straubenzee

There is no doubt that the present concentration on replacement of old primary schools has been widely welcomed.

Sir G. de Freitas

In view of the totally unsatisfactory and deliberately misleading reply, I give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.