HC Deb 03 March 1966 vol 725 cc1473-5
31. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will instruct education authorities which intend to offer no alternative to comprehensive education to give parents the opportunity of sending their children to the comprehensive school of their choice where more than one is available.

Mr. Redhead

A parent's right to choose a school within the public system from among those available is not in any way impaired by the establishment of a comprehensive pattern of secondary education.

Mr. Lewis

But is not the Minister aware that in most cases children are directed to a particular school in a particular area? Does he realise that the setting up of the comprehensive system is creating a socially divisive influence in the grammar schools because to the grammar schools children come from all classes and all areas whereas, if there is a comprehensive school in one area and a comprehensive school in another, children from the one area go to the one school, and this creates social barriers?

Mr. Redhead

I would not accept the hon. Gentleman's assessment of the position, and I ask him to bear in mind that for the great majority of parents the present system of secondary organisation does not in practice allow very much choice to parents.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Hamling.

Mr. Lewis

I beg to give notice—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have called the hon. Member for Woolwich, West.

Mr. Hamling

Is my hon. Friend the Minister aware that in London, where we have had more experience of comprehensive schools than in any other L.E.A. in England, there has been no such direction as the hon. Gentleman opposite has mentioned?

Sir E. Boyle

Reverting to the Minister's last answer, is it not a fact that at least one authority, namely, Bristol, in putting forward comprehensive proposals, specifically advocated that comprehensive schools should be on neighbourhood lines, and is it not a fact also that any such proposal must exacerbate class differences between schools?

Mr. Lewis

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Giving notice of intention to raise a matter on the Adjournment precludes any further questions. I hope that hon. Members will hesitate before doing so too quickly.

Mr. Redhead

My right hon. Friend is most anxious that comprehensive schools should not develop into purely neighbourhood schools, and on these grounds alone he would support the widest possible range of choice for parents.

Mr. Lewis

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise the matter at the General Election.