HC Deb 24 January 1957 vol 563 c363
5. Mr. Swingler

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many projects for comprehensive schools have been submitted to him during the last three years; how many were approved; for how many approval was refused; and why.

Sir E. Boyle

My noble Friend's predecessor approved seven such proposals. He rejected three, because they failed to provide suitable conditions for the experiment to have a real chance of success.

Mr. Swingler

May we have an assurance, now that there is a new Minister and a new Parliamentary Secretary, that there will be no prejudice against proposals made by local authorities and that the Ministers will now adopt an open-minded and broad-minded approach to the whole topic of comprehensive schools?

Sir E. Boyle

I can assure the hon. Member that my noble Friend will not approach this issue in a doctrinaire spirit.

Mr. M. Stewart

While congratulating the hon. Member on his appointment and the Prime Minister on his adroitness in securing the services of the hon. Member, may I ask that he will bring to this matter of comprehensive schools a mind as free from party prejudice as he has shown in other matters?

Sir E. Boyle

I think I have shown quite clearly that my noble Friend does not propose to approach this issue in any doctrinaire spirit, and I mean that quite sincerely.