55. Miss Leeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the concern felt by the Cannock Chase Divisional Executive of the Staffordshire Education Committee following the rejection of new school building projects in the area; and, in reaching his decision, to what extent he took into account the special problems facing this part of the county owing to an expanding population, responsibility for overspill schemes and a high percentage of obsolete and inadequate school buildings.
§ Mr. HoggNine projects in the Cannock Chase area totalling £1.1 million have been included in the school building programme for 1965–67. The school population of Cannock Chase is about 16 per cent of that for Staffordshire while this programme amounts to over 30 per cent. of the county's programme. This relatively large share approved for Cannock reflects the particular account which was taken of the special needs of the area resulting from the expanding population and overspill schemes.