HC Deb 07 December 1967 vol 755 cc1656-7
30. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the forthcoming local elections in London, he will suspend until June his decision on all proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education in London in which the proposed changes are a matter of controversy, so as to secure that changes of such importance are made only in accordance with the wishes of the parents concerned.

Mr. Gordon Walker

No, Sir.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Since, in the delayed elections next May, changes in the control of many of these boroughs will take place, will not the right hon. Gentleman save a great deal of public money and trouble if he waits the short period necessary in order to ascertain whether those who purport to speak for the electors today really do so?

Mr. Gordon Walker

When schemes come before me I will judge them according to their accord with the Government's proposals for the reorganization of education

Mr. Wellbeloved

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the continual playing of party politics with the education of the children of London is a disgrace? Will he resist any proposals put forward further delay the improvement of the education of London children?

Mr. Gordon Walker

I wholeheartedly agree that the bringing of politics into this is extremely unfortunate and is almost wholly due to the dispute that is going on inside the Conservative Party on the issue, including the Front Bench.

Sir E. Boyle

Is it not the case that a number of anxieties have been expressed about Greater London schemes by bodies which cannot be regarded as party political, such as the Enfield Association for the Advancement of State Education—[Interruption.]—which is a quite different body from the one hon. Members opposite have in mind? Will he take special pains to bear in mind my right hon. Friend's very proper question?

Mr. Gordon Walker

I shall not take special pains. I shall take exactly the same pains I always take in considering schemes which come before me. I will not approve schemes which I think are educationally unsound, whatever the political situation may be in any part of the country.

Mr. Christopher Price

The 1944 Act instructs the Secretary of State to implement a national policy of education. Is it not time we legislated so as to get rid of all this uncertainty of annual changes in the school systems?

Mr. Gordon Walker

A national policy has been proclaimed for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines. I will, of course, consider the possibility and desirability of legislation, but I am sure that it is better to wait and let the general tide towards comprehensive education, which is working in Conservative-controlled as well as in Labour-controlled authorities, flow before one tries to intervene from the centre by legislation.