§ Mr. Robert G. Hughes (Harrow, West)I have a petition from 793 parents, children, staff and friends of the West Lodge first and middle schools in Pinner. Each school is expanding from two to three-form entry and will each be taking in 360 children by 1992. At present, they have permanent capacity for only 280 and 260 children respectively. Extra but temporary accommodation is being provided by the use of mobiles and rooms in an adjacent semi-derelict dairy.
The petitioners wish to secure the erection of purpose-built accommodation. The semi-derelict dairy is unsuitable and the temporary buildings encroach on play areas that are already 2,000 sq ft below the level recommended by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. The local authority has drawn up a feasibility study for a new wing to provides each school with the necessary three extra classrooms, but Harrow cannot adopt it without authorisation for capital expenditure from the Department of Education and Science.
My constituents ask that the Secretary of State for Education and Science authorises capital expenditure in 1988–89 for the London borough of Harrow to undertake the building project at the West Lodge schools.
§ To lie upon the Table.