Mrs. Ren·e Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why she has approved only two primary school projects for the period 1972–74 out of 11 proposed by the Wolverhampton Education Authority;
(2) why she has not approved any of the four secondary projects proposed by the Wolverhampton Education Authority for the period 1972–74;
(3) in view of the fact that nearly 7,000 secondary pupils in Wolverhampton are being taught in overcrowded classes, if she will reconsider her decision not to approve any secondary building projects until after 1974;
(4) in view of the fact that nearly 2,500 primary pupils in Wolverhampton are being taught in overcrowded classes, if she will reconsider her decision to approve only two primary projects of the total of 11 proposed by the Wolverhampton Education Authority.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeAs well as the two primary replacement projects costing £0.26 million, which represents a fair share of the resources available for this purpose, Wolverhampton's approved programmes for 1972–74 include three other primary projects and two secondary projects, costing in all £1.1 million and providing nearly 2,200 extra places to meet rising numbers, together with four other secondary projects costing over £0.5 million required in preparation for the raising of the school-leaving age. In addition the Authority may use at their discretion £0.27 million allocated over the two years for minor projects costing less than £40,000 each. No major projects for the improvement or replacement of old secondary buildings were included in 153W the two programmes because my right hon. Friend is giving priority to primary schools.