HL Deb 01 July 1969 vol 303 cc447-8
LORD SEGAL

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the reasons for the recent closure of the village school at Wytham, near Oxford.]

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, this school was closed because it was no longer large enough to be an effective educational unit. Numbers on the roll have not exceeded 18 since January, 1966, and have been considerably lower. After careful consideration, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is satisfied that wider educational opportunities and adequate space for the children are available at Botley County Primary School.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether she is aware that the closure of this school will probably now result in a dying village, as the number of inhabitants since the closure has fallen off? Would it not be possible to consider reopening this school, if the population of this village should increase as a result of the now empty cottages being restored and made habitable?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, I am quite sure that my right honourable friend would consider reopening the school, if there were sufficient demand for it, but I should like to remind my noble friend that the Plowden Committee recommended that for a village primary school of this kind the minimum number of places desirable was 80.