HC Deb 14 December 1973 vol 866 cc207-8W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the criteria applied for the sanction of minor capital works; and if she will list the points of failure to comply with the criteria in the application made by the London borough of Brent.

Mr. Raison

In allocating resources for minor capital works in 1975–76 my right hon. Friend paid particular attention to the needs both of those authorities whose school populations were expected still to be increasing rapidly in 1976 and of those with large numbers of small old primary schools requiring improvement projects too small to qualify for the major programme. The increase in the school population in the London borough of Brent is likely to be slower by 1976 than in previous years and entirely due to the secondary sector; the need arising from this growth has been catered for in major building programmes. The authority has only one old primary school eligible for the primary improvement programme and not yet included in a programme.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total allocation of funds for minor capital works for the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76, the percentage decrease in the two final years, and the reason for it.

Mr. Raison

As my right hon. Friend said in her answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 11th December—[Vol. 866, c. 186.]—she hopes soon to make an announcement about the resumption of approvals of educational building work. It would be premature to say anything more in advance of that announcement.