§ 18. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many projects there were for replacement of rural primary schools in 1968–69 and 1972–73: and how many there will be in 1974–75.
§ Mr. van Straubenzee:One. 74 and 163.
§ 30. Sir Robin Turtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give guidance to local education authorities on the reorganisation of primary schools in rural areas.
§ Mrs. Thatcher:Local circumstances vary too much to justify general policy guidance and I examine, on its merits and in the light of any objections, each proposal of this kind by a local education authority. The view was expressed in the Plowden Report that primary schools covering the full age range 5–11 should not contain less than about 50 pupils.