HC Deb 17 December 1970 vol 808 cc400-1W
61. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nineteenth century primary schools are still in use in the county of Derbyshire; how many will be replaced in 1972–73 as a result of the Government's allocation; and how many years it will take to remove them all at that rate of replacement.

Mr. van Straubenzee

I understand from the local education authority that there are some 240 primary schools in Derbyshire which date from before 1903. Not all these will need to be replaced or improved in the major programme. A number have already been modernised; for some there may be no long-term need; and others are very small and may be replaced or improved from minor works allocations. Two of the larger schools will be replaced in the 1972–73 major programme and I hope that good progress will be made with other necessary improvement and replacement projects in subsequent years.