HC Deb 27 February 1962 vol 654 cc135-6W
Sir P. Agnew

asked the Minister of Education if he will now make a Statement on the educational building programmes for 1963–64.

Sir D. Eccles

Capital expenditure on educational building in 1963–64 will rise to £130 million as against £125 million in 1962–63.

Starts of major school building projects will be £55 million, a figure which the Government are prepared to increase if the longer-term economic prospects improve so that further investment in the public sector can be authorised.

£55 million starts in 1963–64 will bring the total school building for the first four years of the £300 million five-year programme announced in the White Paper to £240 million or four-fifths of the total.

Within the £55 million a special priority has been given to the provision for science accommodation at secondary schools. This section of the schools programme will receive £7. million in 1963–64, against an average of £4 million for 1961–63.

Metropolitan Police District
— 1960 1961*
Total Under 18 18 and under 21 Total Under 18 18 and under 21
Number of convictions … 26,673 189 1,031 29,397 183 1,291

City of London
— 1960 1961*
Total Under 18 18 and under 21 Total Under 18 18 and under 21
Number of convictions … 146 — 4 190 1 3
* The figures shown for 1961 are provisional.

The expansion of teacher training colleges by 24,000 places will proceed as planned. The Further Education programme also remains unchanged, calling for £17 million starts in 1963–64.

The Youth Service was authorised to start £7 million of work in the first three years following the Albemarle Report. The programme for 1963–64 will be £3 million.

Special schools will be authorised to start £2.6 million in 1963–64 against £2.4 million in 1962–63.

I expect to increase minor works allocations somewhat above current levels.