§ 48. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education what are the latest figures of primary and secondary schools under construction; to what extent these figures are below the estimates made by his Department at the beginning of the school building year; and what steps are being taken by his Department to speed up the programme.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe value of primary and secondary projects under construction on 30th September, 1955, was £100 million. I made no estimate with which60W this can be compared, as I am more concerned to see schools completed. One of the objects of a circular which I am sending to local authorities is to secure the more rapid completion of school building work.
§ 49. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education to what extent the Staffordshire school building programme is in arrears; and what steps are being taken by his Department to assist the Staffordshire authority to bring it up to date.
§ Sir D. EcclesI understand that by 31st March next the Staffordshire Authority will not be able to start building five of the 31 primary and secondary schools in their 1955–56 programme, although they should be ready to do so not very long after that date.
§ 50. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if he will make a detailed statement on the effects of Her Majesty's Government's latest programme of capital cuts on the school building programme.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular on the educational building programme which is being sent to the local education authorities.
§ Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Education how many schools under his Department are now 80 years old or more; and how many modern schools have been built since 1945.
§ Sir D. EcclesI have not the information needed to answer the first part of the Question. Up to October of last year 2,108 new primary schools and 595 new secondary schools (of which 485 were "secondary modern") had been completed since 1945.