§ 20 and 22. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will consider providing temporary additional structures at the Heatheryknowe, Murray, and Duncanrigg Schools, East Kilbride, to accommodate children otherwise transferred to the village school;
(2) whether he is aware that more than 300 children, hitherto attending the Murray and Heatheryknowe Schools, East Kilbride, were, at the beginning of this term, transferred to the village school, that the local authority has explained that this is to facilitate the accommodation of the children of newly-incoming residents, and that some of the children transferred have already had several such disruptions in their primary school careers, while direction of the newcomers to the village school would cause no additional disruption; whether he is satisfied that the best arrangements have been made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend understands that housing developments made necessary the transfer of 330 children from two overcrowded schools to accommodation available in East Kilbride Primary School. The authority decided that these children should be drawn from82W those who would have to be moved in any case when new schools now being built are completed. The children will then move as classes along with their teachers to minimise disturbance to their education. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the authority's arrangements are the best that can be made in the circumstances, and that it would not be justifiable to provide additional temporary classrooms when there is satisfactory vacant accommodation in East Kilbride Primary School.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when Kirktonholme Primary School, East Kilbride, will be ready for use; how this date compares with that in the original plan for the new town; and the cause of the delay.
§ Mr. MaclayI understand from Lanarkshire Education Authority that Kirktonholme Primary School is expected to be ready by the summer of 1960. The original proposals for the provision of schools for East Kilbride envisaged that this school would be completed by 1955. The plans, which were prepared by the architectural staff of the East Kilbride Development Corporation, were much too costly and considerable adjustments had to be made, which occupied some time. It was then found necessary to resort to compulsory purchase to acquire the site and the Compulsory Purchase Order was not confirmed until October, 1954. In the interval new standards for schools had been introduced by my predecessor and the education authority decided to abandon the original plans as they were out of date and to use plans which conformed to the new standards and which they had prepared for use in their area. The Development Corporation objected to these plans on the ground that they were not up to the high standard of design which was a feature of East Kilbride. After much negotiation between the education authority and the Development Corporation agreement was reached on plans which were approved by me in May, 1957. Building work started in July of last year.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many 83W schoolrooms are needed to accommodate the 330 Mains West children, East Kilbride, who have been transferred from the Heatheryknowe and Murray Schools to the village school; and how many rooms and other spaces at Heatheryknowe and Murray Schools are now reserved for community rooms, libraries, and places of assembly.
§ Mr. MaclayThe answer to the first part of the Question is eight and to the second, five. The five rooms comprise an assembly hall in each school also used for dining, and two rooms and a library in the Murray School which are available for community purposes during school hours. I understand that Lanarkshire Education Authority decided that these last three rooms should continue to be available for their proper purposes, especially as a considerable number of pupils would still have had to be trans-
— Last Term (December, 1958) Present Term (January, 1959) Number of pupils Number of teachers Number of pupils Number of teachers Heatheryknowe Primary School … 795 19 643 17 The Murray Primary School … 749 19 577 17 East Kilbride Primary School … 587 16 879 24 Heatheryknowe and Murray Primary Schools each have accommodation to take normally 680 pupils, and new intakes are expected to fill them by the beginning of February and the beginning of August respectively.