27.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the school building programme of Ross and Cromarty County Council has fallen several years in arrears, especially in the island of Lewis; and what action he has taken to assist the county council to speed up the programme and create a special schools architects' department since the hon. Member for the Western Isles wrote to him last September.
I am aware that Ross and Cromarty has fallen behind its former school building programme. The education authority has now, however, undertaken a comprehensive review of its schools and is framing a new building programme, based on a fresh appraisal both of educational priorities and of the availability of contractors. It is also considering the question of additional architectural assistance, A meeting will shortly take place between my Department and the education authority to discuss how best to carry through the programme.
Is the Minister aware that some of the school building schemes in the 1958 programme have not yet even been started, that there is no hope of the 1963 phase being completed in scheduled time and that only five schools a year are being reconstructed, although there are 119 schemes of relatively major reconstruction necessary? Does he not think that something should be done in the way of a crash programme now? Will he bring pressure on this local authority which clearly has failed in its statutory duties?
We have been concerned about the lack of progress for some time, but I am glad that this local authority has revised its programme and decided to discuss it with us.
May I ask the hon. Gentleman in particular to have regard to the ancillary programme of permanent canteens and to take into account through his Department that in the last five years this county council failed to take up 100 per cent. grants for permanent school canteens worth nearly £160,000 in an area where there is heavy unemployment and gross overcrowding in the schools?
We will take note of what the hon. Member has said.