asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the school building programme for Newcastle-under-Lyme which he has approved for 1965–66 is of lesser value than the programmes approved for 1962–63 and 1963–64.

Priorities between different areas inevitably vary from year to year as the school building programme proceeds. The total sums to be spent in any particular area likewise vary from year to year.

Whilst being grateful for the fact that the Minister has at last agreed to include Friarswood School in the programme for rehousing, may I ask him whether he is aware that Newcastle-under-Lyme had a very small programme last year—it fell to a very low level—that this programme which has now been approved is substantially less than that for the two years mentioned and that the Newcastle-under-Lyme education authorities have only put up projects urgently needed in the district? Would he not, therefore, be willing to reconsider this in view of the fact that the programme is at a relatively low level?

I think the hon. Gentleman must understand that I must regard the priority list of Staffordshire as a whole, and it is, I think, in relation to that that the variations of the particular programmes year by year of Newcastle-under-Lyme have to be viewed.