§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate, whether he is aware that the Grimshader public school, island of Lewis, is without a water supply and that, although fifty-five children are in daily attendance at the school, there are no pegs on which the children can hang their cloaks, with the result that in wet weather many of the children run a risk of chill through having to wear damp garments when returning home; and will the Scottish Education Department take such steps as may be necessary to secure the rectification of these deficiencies?
§ Mr. UREThe school named is on a high, rocky site, and the provision of a direct water supply on the premises is stated by the local medical officer to be a matter of formidable difficulty. He considers the present arrangements quite passable in the circumstances. With regard to cloak pegs, the Department understand that minor repairs to the school, which are already in progress, will include improvement of the lobby furnishing.
§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that although the public school at Grimshader, Lochs, island of Lewis, is not capable of accommodating more than forty-two pupils there are as many as fifty-five pupils on the school register; and, seeing that this results in overcrowding, will he state whether the 1000W Lochs school board propose to provide additional accommodation?
§ Mr. UREThe school population has been on the increase, and the School Board have lodged plans for a small extension of the school, but have not been able to start building owing to lack of funds. This Board is in a very difficult position financially owing very largely to the fact that recent expenditure on repairs to school buildings has been very heavy.