HC Deb 26 June 1952 vol 502 c195W
20. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Minister of Education how many children of the age of five years and over are at present unable to obtain places in schools; and if she has made an estimate of how this figure is likely to be affected by the cuts in the school-building programme.

Miss Horsbrugh

I have no precise information. Preliminary returns for January, 1952, however, suggest that the number was not then large; the percentage of the five-year old age group then in maintained schools was higher than in any previous post-war year.

My school building programme is designed to provide the 1,150,000 places which my predecessor estimated to be required by the end of 1953.