§ Mr. Astorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he will allocate a larger sum than that at present proposed for the minor works programme in Berkshire during each of the years 1970–71 and 1971–72, in view of rising building costs and increasing numbers of pupils;
(2) why he has approved a provisional allocation for minor building works in Berkshire for each of the years 1970–71 and 1971–72 which is less than the amount allocated in recent years.
24W
§ Mr. Edward ShortAs I have announced today, all local education authorities' minor works allocations for the next two years are being increased by 10 per cent. following the raising of the cost limits for school building. Berkshire's new figures of about £367,000 for 1970–71 and £363,000 for 1971–72 compare with figures of £370,000 in 1968–69 and £357,000 in 1969–70. The amount allocated nationally for minor works is much the same in real terms for all four years but the needs of any one authority do not necessarily remain a constant proportion of the total.