HC Deb 18 March 1965 vol 708 cc1451-2
6. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the strengthening of secondary modern schools by preferential allocation of funds and staff.

74. Mr. Snow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state his policy on strengthening secondary modern schools by preferential allocation of funds and staff.

75. Mr. Ensor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for improving the staffing and other conditions in secondary modern schools.

Mr. Crosland

It is no part of my policy to give preferential treatment to any one kind of school. My aim is to secure that available resources of money and teachers are fairly shared between all children in whatever kind of school they may be.

Mr. Lloyd

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Warwickshire Education Authority, which was a pioneer, with Birmingham and other authorities in their high schools, in developing the modern generation of secondary moderns, gave preference to the secondary moderns for development into high schools to give them a lift, and that when they brought them to the proper standard they established a parity of provision for all types of secondary education?

Mr. Crosland

I take that point, but I think the situation has been changed by the fact that it is now the Government's policy that secondary education should be reorganised on comprehensive lines. Given this basic decision of policy by the Government, it would be quite inappropriate if, in the interim period, I were to encourage local authorities to give preferential treatment to any one type of school.

Mr. William Hamilton

Can my hon. Friend explain the new-found interest of members opposite in secondary education?

Mr. Speaker

It is no part of his job to explain the interest of hon. Members opposite to him.

Sir E. Boyle

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain to his hon. Friend that the interest dates back as far as 1944, and was strongly expressed in the White Paper of 1958?

Mr. Speaker

Order. Too much education is getting into the question.