§ Mr. Pounderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in Northern Ireland still lack indoor water closets and washhand basins; what plans he has to accelerate the provision of these; and how the current figures compare with those in 1967.
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§ Mr. David HowellThe last survey of these amenities in schools was carried out in 1968 and is to be repeated in the 1972–73 school year. In 1968, of 1,351 primary schools, 704 lacked indoor water closets and 167 were without washhand basins. The comparable figures in the previous survey which took place in 1963 were a total of 1,482 primary schools, of which 1,054 lacked indoor water closets. The number of schools which lacked washhand basins in that year is not known.
The provision of these facilities is initially a matter for school authorities—local education authorities and voluntary school managers—and is encouraged by the Ministry as a part of its programme for the development and improvement of school accommodation.
No secondary schools are without these amenities.