§ 11. Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special arrangements he makes for ensuring that there is sufficient provision of primary and secondary school places in areas under the planning control of urban development corporations.
§ Mr. FallonIt is for local authorities to make proposals to ensure that there are sufficient school places available, whether in urban development areas, or elsewhere. My right hon. and learned Friend always considers proposals for new schools on their merits and in the light of all the relevant information that is available.
§ Mr. SpearingIs the Minister aware that a memorandum that I sent to his colleague shows that in the London borough of Newham, south of the A13, which is an area as big as Earl's Court to Waterloo and Chelsea to the middle of Hyde Park, there is an abundance of primary schools but no secondary schools? As the borough lies within the area of the London Docklands development corporation and as large numbers of people are likely to move there, is not it the Government's responsibility to ensure that there are both primary and secondary schools in the area so that the population of Newham is not prejudiced? Where else in the country do such conditions exist?
§ Mr. FallonThe fact that there is a successful development corporation at work in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, as there is in many other areas of the country, has nothing to do with school planning provision in that area. It is a matter for Newham and Newham 896 alone. I note that this year Newham has been allocated £8.6 million for capital expenditure on schools, as against £5.6 million last year.