§ Liecut.-Colonel Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the secondary schools in Scotland which are still working on a half-time basis because of the continued occupation of school premises for other than educational purposes; and what steps he is taking, in the cases concerned, to obtain early possession of the affected schools so that full-time education may be resumed without delay?
Mr. JohnstonAccording to returns furnished by education authorities showing the position at 13th June last, the Grammar School and the Central Secondary School in Aberdeen Burgh were the only schools in Scotland where the provision of half-time instruction for secondary pupils is attributable to the occupation of premises for non-educational purposes. I am glad to say that the Corporation have now agreed to proposals which I hope will enable full-time education to be restored at an early date.
46W
§ Lieut.-Colonel Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the strong feeling in Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire at the apparent reluctance of the Aberdeen town council to release the Central School, Aberdeen, for its proper purpose; and whether he is prepared any longer to allow the continuance of a half-day basis of education at this school which has been in force now for four years, to the detriment of the pupils concerned, and to their disadvantage compared with children attending other secondary schools in the city?
Mr. JohnstonThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regard the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his previous Question.