§ 36. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give special consideration to the replacement of old school buildings in the intermediate and development areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe first priority for school building must be to meet basic needs for additional places. I recognise, however, the urgent need to improve and replace some of our old schools, and my Department informed local education authorities on 7th November which major projects of this kind, to a total value of £20 million, have been included in the 1974–75 starts programme. I have thought it right, in view of the limited resources available, to restrict such projects in 1974–75 to those which will benefit pupils living in areas of special social need. There is some overlap between these areas and intermediate and development areas.