HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 cc848-9
5. Mr. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made in consideration of the requirement, through population growth,for a further secondary school in the Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath area.

Mr. Macfarlane

This is a matter for the West Sussex local education authority. My right hon. and learned Friend understands that the authority is currently discussing the acquisition of a suitable site in the Burgess Hill area, so that an additional secondary school could be built when the projected number of pupils has risen sufficiently.

Mr. Renton

Is my hon. Friend aware that in Burgess Hill, far from there being a drop in the birth rate, there is a baby bulge, and that many young parents are deeply worried about the number of new houses being built without adequate provision being made for secondary school places? Will he, therefore, promise sympathetically to consider the urgent need for secondary schools when West Sussex next submits its capital expenditure plans?

Mr. Macfarlane

My right hon. and learned Friend will always sympathetically consider any baby bulge, but so far we have had no proposal from the local authority. With the general trend of falling pupil rolls, each local authority has to consider the requirements in its area. Under section 12 of the Education Act 1980, a local education authority has to bid to the Department for capital resources. Until then, the Department of Education and Science has no standing in the matter, and no proposal has yet been made to the Department.