asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of the year 1956/57 (a) the total estimated expenditure on primary school buildings, the amount actually expended, and the number of schools involved, and (b) the total number of cases in which over £5,000 was expended and the total amount spent on such schools; and if he will give an estimate along similar lines of his proposals for 1957/58.
Written Answers. - Expenditure on Primary Schools.
The estimated grant expenditure on the building and improvement of national schools during the year ended 31st March, 1957, was £1,350,000. The actual expenditure during the year was £1,408,496 and the number of schools involved was 668. On each of 54 schools expenditure exceeded £5,000 and the total amount expended on these 54 schools was £917,120.
The amount provided for grants in aid of the building and improvement of national schools in the Estimate for Public Works and Buildings for 1957/58 is £1,550,000. It is anticipated that of this sum £1,425,000 will be expended on 261 major works (estimated to cost £500 or more) already in progress or authorised and £70,000 on an unspecified number of smaller works. The balance of £55,000 provided in the Estimate will be allocated during the year in respect of further cases of very great urgency, the number of which it is not possible to state at present. It is further anticipated that on each of 45 projects expenditure will exceed £5,000 and that the total expenditure on these works will be £970,000.