§ Dr. John A. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any special allocation of capital expenditure in connection with the capital building programme 1976–77 has been offered by his Department to Cumbria County Council Education Authority, to promote the basic needs building programme and assist with the creation of jobs in the construction industry; what response the Cumbria Education Authority has made; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe Cumbria authority was offered an authorisation of £110,000 in November 1975 as part of the Government's measures to alleviate unemployment in the construction industry but did not wish to take advantage of this. Basic need resources for additional school places are included in the authority's lump sum building authorisation which as notified to the authority this week has been finalised for 1976–77 at £1.189 million.
§ Dr. John A. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what capital building authorisation was requested by Cumbria County Council Education Authority in 1975–76; what sum was approved; and whether the total sum sanctioned was taken up by the authority.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonRequests were not invited from authorities for the 1975–76 allocations, which were compiled by reference to projects included for the formerly existing authorities in lists previously approved but suspended as a result of the moratorium of October 1973. A capital building authorisation of £1.094 million for 1975–76 was notified to the Cumbria education authority in January 1975 and the authority indicated that this would be taken up in full.