HC Deb 05 April 1968 vol 762 c149W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will start pilot experimental projects to implement those proposals of the Plowden Committee whose full implementation is having to be postponed until finance is available.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Several substantial steps have already been taken towards the objectives recommended in the Plowden Report—in particular the capital allocations, which I have announced today, for schools in areas of the type described in the Report as educational priority areas; the Burnham additions to the salaries of teachers in schools of exceptional difficulty; and the proposals made by a number of authorities for the establishment of middle schools. The Schools Council also has a programme of research and development devoted to primary schools. I could not experiment further at present within the resources available to me.