Education Establishments

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1988.

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Photo of Mr Win Griffiths Mr Win Griffiths , Bridgend 12:00, 31 October 1988

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what visits he has made in the past three months to educational establishments in Wales.

Photo of Mr Wyn Roberts Mr Wyn Roberts , Conwy

On Monday 26 September I visited two schools—Eglwyswen primary school and Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, both in South Glamorgan.

Photo of Mr Win Griffiths Mr Win Griffiths , Bridgend

Would the Minister care to visit some schools in Mid-Glamorgan where, as was admitted in the HMI report, because stock is very old, and because of the problems of the mining valleys, replacement and maintenance costs are very high? Will the Minister consider giving Mid-Glamorgan extra funds, given that his own inspectors say that it has a problem in dealing with the stock? Let me cite one example from the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell). At Nantyffyllon, the Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg TyDerwen school needed £150,000 to repair its boundary walls. Will the Minister provide extra money for the councils?

Photo of Mr Wyn Roberts Mr Wyn Roberts , Conwy

We have increased capital allocations for local authorities, but the hon. Gentleman will know that we cannot direct the authorities to spend that capital on schools. It is for the local authorities to decide what their priorities are, but, like the hon. Gentleman, I should certainly like them to spend more of their capital allocations on school buildings.