asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will withhold approval of the Croydon Education Authority's plans for the new open-plan Park Hill Infants' School, pending further consideration of the alternative proposals submitted to her Department by the parent-teachers association.

Provided plans for new school buildings meet the Department's statutory requirements, the design of the buildings is primarily a matter for the local education authority. The Department, has, however always stressed the need for co-operation between those who design schools and those who use and run them, and has referred to the Croydon authority the comments which the staff of the school had sent to my right hon. Friend.