§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received complaints re the lack of accommodation at the county school for girls at Hengoed, Glamorganshire; whether these girls have to take their lunch in the open air in all kinds of weather through lack of a room for this purpose; whether three rooms were 2469W damaged by fire a few years ago and have not yet been repaired; and will he take steps to enforce the repair of at least one of these rooms so as to provide accommodation for the above purpose?
Mr. H. LEWISThe very unsatisfactory condition of this school, as the result of the unfortunate fire a few years ago, has long been known to the Board, who, in July last, intimated to the school governors that if the school was to continue to be regarded as eligible for Parliamentary grants proposals for providing it with adequate and satisfactory accommodation would need to be submitted without any further delay. Financial and administrative difficulties are understood to have been responsible for the requisite repairs not being carried out earlier, but plans for the restoration of the school buildings are now before the Board, who agree as to the desirability of the most urgent work being taken in hand and executed with all speed so as to alleviate the discomfort and risk of health to which the hon. Member refers and which the present condition of affairs undoubtedly entails.