§ Sir P. Hurdasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the harmful educational effect of overcrowding, as in Wiltshire secondary schools, as, for instance, the Marlborough Grammar School, which is attended by 390 pupils though intended to accommodate only 200; and whether the Wiltshire County Council can now have labour and materials to allow a start to be made with the urgent parts of its educational programme?
§ Mr. ButlerWith a view to alleviating the overcrowding at Marlborough grammar school the Board approved certain structural alterations in August, 1942, and in October, 1942, agreed to the provision of a hut to accommodate two classes. Since then no further proposals have been received either from the local education authority or the governors. As regards the second part of the Question, priority in the supplies of labour and material available for building has to be given to the Service and Supply Departments and I regret that it is not yet practicable to provide them for new programmes of educational buildings.