§ 47. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what cuts he has recently made in the school building programme of the London County Council; and why he has made these cuts.
§ Mr. HoggIn April of this year my right hon. Friend announced school building programmes for the London County Council of £3 million for 1965–66, £3.1 million for 1966–67 and £1 million as a first instalment for 1967–68. These programmes, which compare with average programmes of £1.9 million over the period 1960–65, consist of the most urgent projects selected from lists of proposals submitted by the Authority which totalled for each year £4.8 million, £4.7 million and £3.9 million. Of the £6.1 million programme for the first two years, all but £550,000 (8 projects) is for improvement and replacement projects. The system under which local education authorities are invited to submit proposals for my consideration is designed to secure the best use of available resources in the country as a whole within the period covered by the particular programme. I do not accept the hon. Member's description of the non-selection of all projects as cuts.