§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government for information as to what proposals they can now make in order that the educational facilities in the Isles of Scilly may be improved and the needs of the children met within adequate financial limits.]
744§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, at present, there are five all-age schools in the Isles of Scilly, providing for all the children except those selected for grammar schools. The problem is how to provide secondary education for the other seniors. The local education authority wish to build a secondary modern school on St. Mary's because they believe it would be bad for the children and for the Islands to send them to secondary schools on the mainland. The Minister of Education agrees and has included the project in the 1960–61 building programme. The authority have, however, strongly represented that their general financial position prevents them from carrying out this project. Officers of the Ministries of Education and Housing and Local Government spent two days in the Islands last month examining the facts and discussing the issues with the Council. The Departments concerned are now studying the facts and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, I thank the noble and learned Viscount for his very full reply to the Question. I am certain that it will give pleasure to the people of these Islands to know that sooner or later they will have their secondary school.