HL Deb 05 July 1967 vol 284 cc625-6

2.36 p.m.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Education and Science will give authority for the Kent County Council to proceed immediately with the rebuilding of the Elvington County Primary School, Eythorne, which has for a long time been in a dilapidated and to some extent dangerous condition.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, the Kent authority have submitted this project for the 1969–70 major school building programme which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is currently considering. He hopes to announce the programme shortly.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether she is aware that even if approval is given to this rebuilding it will be some two years before the school is ready for occupation again? Is she further aware that it was built in 1928 almost entirely of matchboarding, as a purely temporary measure; that rebuilding actually commenced before the war and was stopped, obviously, because of the war; that nothing has been done since; that the electrical wiring, for example, which was estimated to have 20 years' life is now 40 years' old; that the school is heated by combustion stoves—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Order!

LORD PARGITER

And whether or not—

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)

My Lords, I think I must ask my noble friend whether he is putting a question.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, I am asking my noble friend whether she is aware of these conditions and whether, having regard to all these circumstances and the fact that the chief fire officer has reported adversely on the school, something may be done to expedite this rebuilding and bring it into a much earlier programme.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is aware that the physical conditions in the existing building are very bad, and the Kent authority have taken steps to implement the recommendations made by the county fire officer following his recent inspection of this school. I will convey the facts that my noble friend has now given to the House to my right honourable friend, but he is well aware of the conditions obtaining in the school.

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