§ 52. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Education what increase he will sanction in expenditure on the building of new schools and on the repair and improvement of existing schools, in those parts of Wales where unemployment is above the average level for the whole of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir E. BoyleRepairs and maintenance at schools maintained by local education authorities do not need to be approved by my right hon. Friend's Department. Capital projects are approved primarily on the basis of educational needs. Some minor projects in areas of high unemployment have been specially authorised and the start of others is possible under the arrangements recently announced in paragraph 20 of Circular 342. Local education authorities are being allowed to spend more on minor projects next year and in settling individual allocations my right hon. Friend has had particular regard to those areas of Wales where unemployment is high.