§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the inadequate size and equipment and, in certain cases, dangerous condition of the playgrounds at several schools in the Western Isles: what action he is taking to assist the county councils of Ross and Cromarty and of Inverness to provide safe and adequate playing space and shelter at all their schools; what specific schemes or proposals he has before him from those local authorities towards this end; and if he will name the schools affected by those proposals.
§ Mr. MaclayEducation authorities can carry out without reference to me projects costing less than £5,000, as most improvement to playgrounds do. Since 1955 the Education Authorities of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty have carried out works under their programmes for playground improvements at 41 schools in the Western Isles, and work is about to start at three other schools in Lewis, Aird Junior Secondary School, Bayble Junior Secondary School and the Nicolson Institute.
Following the issue on 3rd December of the White Paper "Education in Scotland—The Next Step," which announced the Government's intention that old school premises should be brought up to modern standards, education authorities have been asked to submit comprehensive programmes of works designed to achieve this end, and I hope that as a result progress will be accelerated.