Mr. COWANasked the President of the Board of Education what are the terms of reference to the Committee which is considering the planning of school buildings; and how is it constituted?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe terms of reference are as follow
To inquire and report as to the construction of school buildings with special reference to
- (i) the use of new materials and methods of construction; and
- (ii) the reduction of cost."
The following are the members of the Committee:
553WSir Frank Baines, C.V.O., C.B.E., F.R.I.B.A., Director of Works, His Majesty's Office of Works (Chairman);
Mr. G. Topham Forrest, F.R.S.E., F.R.I.B.A., F.G.S., Architect to the London County Council;
Mr. G. F. N. Clay, F.R.I.B.A., Architect to the Board of Education;
with Mr. A. F. Birch-Jones, M.C. (Secretary).
The late Sir Charles Ruthen, Director. General of Housing, Ministry of Health, was also a member of the Committee.
Mr. COWANasked the President of the Board of Education whether, since the building Regulations of the Board of Education were repealed, any guiding principles are available for local education authorities in the planning, modernisation, or remodelling of school buildings; have the Board in contemplation the issue of a statement of the principles of school planning upon which the Board proceed in criticising the plans submitted to them; and, if so, when it is proposed to issue such a statement?
§ Lord E. PERCYI would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 5 (d) of Circular 1375, a copy of which I am sending him.
Mr. COWANasked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education are in a position to make a statement as to what has been done in the case of elementary schools reported upon as having unsatisfactory premises; what is the number of schools in the various categories which are now regarded as satisfactory; what is the number which have been closed; what is the date when these reports were first issued to the local education authorities or to the managers; and are there any eases in which the Board have made representations to the local education authorities or to the managers as to delay in meeting the Board's requirements?
§ Lord E. PERCYAs regards the first and last parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on the 24th March last. Generally speaking the programmes of local authorities show that the bulk of the provided schools will be dealt with by the end of the programme period in 1930; as regards voluntary schools, while554W the information as to the managers' intentions is less complete, substantial progress is being made. The Board are in constant communication with local authorities and managers in regard to individual cases, but, as I have previously pointed out, the rate at which the schools can be replaced must depend upon the particular circumstances of the individual areas concerned. In many cases the problem is affected by movements of population consequent upon housing developments, and it is important that replacement should be undertaken in connection with a considered scheme of reorganisation. Seventy schools have been closed or replaced, and in 126 others the defects have been removed; in addition, plans have already been approved for the reconstruction or replacement of 321 other schools. The lists were issued to urban authorities about January, 1925, and to county authorities about six months later.