HC Deb 07 April 1964 vol 692 cc192-3W
Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that Gateshead has a considerable number of Roman Catholic parents who are compelled to send their children on long journeys to obtain their grammar school education in other towns, and that the local authorities' proposals for the Old Durham Road Grammar-Technical School would obviate the necessity for these long journeys and would complete the authorities' reorganisation of secondary education; on how many occasions proposals have been submitted by the local authority for the inclusion of this project in the local authority buliding programme; on what dates they were submitted; and if it is intended to include this school in the 1965–68 programme.

Mr. Hogg

A proposal for a Roman Catholic grammar school in Gateshead has been among those submitted by the Authority for consideration for major building programmes on ten occasions since 1951. I am well aware of the circumstances, but places are available for the Roman Catholic children in county schools in Gateshead, and in direct grant schools, independent and aided schools in neighbouring areas. I have not therefore been able to include this project in the school building programme from 1965–67 in preference to other well justified projects in Gateshead and elsewhere in the country. Two other new Roman Catholic secondary schools have been included in the Gates-head authority's programmes since 1961.

Forward to