HC Deb 14 March 1957 vol 566 cc1300-1
31. Miss Bacon

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what steps he is taking to encourage local education authorities with a small percentage of grammar school accommodation to increase the number of grammar school places or provide comprehensive schools.

34. Mr. M. Stewart

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what steps he is taking to secure greater uniformity among local education authorities in the proportion of pupils for whom grammar school education is available.

Sir E. Boyle

I would refer the hon. Members to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving) on 24th January.

Miss Bacon

Is the Minister aware that, according to the list which he sent to me recently, which, in spite of requests from many hon. Members, he did not publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, 12 authorities have grammar school places for 30 per cent. and over of their children, 9 of those being in Wales? Is he further aware that 38 local authorities have grammar school places for 15 per cent. of their children or less, and does not this make a mockery of equality of opportunity for everyone? Will he say what he is doing to remedy this state of affairs?

Sir E. Boyle

I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady that this is the most important aspect of our educational policy at the present time, but it is really too big a subject to debate at Question time. I can only repeat that, owing to the great variety of local circumstances, one could never expect a very high degree of uniformity between local authorities.

Mr. Stewart

In view of what the Minister has just said about the great importance of this subject, could he make available in the OFFICIAL REPORT and, possibly, in the Annual Report of the Ministry, the information which he has furnished to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds. South-East (Miss Bacon)?

Sir E. Boyle

I am sure that my noble Friend will consider both points.