§ 10. Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of the need to reduce public expenditure, what reductions are to be made in the school-building programme; and how these will affect, in the years ahead, both the availability of places and the improvement of facilities at schools in Bourne-mouth.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerI have withdrawn the special allocations for 1968–69 and 1969–70 for raising the school-leaving age, but I am increasing the basic building programme for England and Wales by £7 million in each of those two years. I am also asking authorities for revised proposals for starting projects in 1968–69. If work on the new Avonbourne School
Major Building Educational Priority Areas Reorganisation (on postponement of R.S.L.A.)* and Educational Priority Areas Special Schools Minor Works Total £million £million £million £million £million £million 81.5 8.0 7.0 5.0 27.5 129.0 *The sum of £ 8 million announced for this purpose is divided into about £ 7 million for England and Wales and £ 1 million for Scotland. The withdrawal of allocations for raising the school-leaving age for the years 1968–69 and 1969–70, and the addition of £7 million to the programme for England and Wales for each of those years, have made it necessary for me to ask local education authorities to review their proposals for starts in those years. Until I have received their replies and considered them it is not possible to say how the allocations will be divided 198W starts by 31st March, it will not be affected by this review.
§ Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why Circular 6/68 does not indicate how much of the £8 million increase in the basic school-building programmes for both 1968–69 and 1969–70 will be allocated to local education authorities in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerAt the time when the Circular was issued the size of Scotland's share of the £8 million had not been determined. It has now been decided that about £7 million should be allocated to England and Wales. References to £ 89. 5 million in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Circular should therefore be read as £88. 5 million.
§ Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in tabular form the revised school-building programmes for 1968–69 and 1969–70, divided into basic needs, replacements and improvements, allocations for special schools, additions for educational priority areas and secondary reorganisation, and minor works.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerThe authorised level of starts, which is the same for each of the years, is as follows:
between basic needs, and replacements or improvements.