HC Deb 15 June 1967 vol 748 cc752-3
12. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet reached conclusions about the major recommendations of the Plowden Report.

Mr. Crosland

No, Sir.

Mr. Morrison

In the light of the proportion of the national product which seems likely to be available for education, the now defunct National Plan and the actual growth in the economy in recent years, does the right hon. Gentleman honestly believe that he will be able to implement any of the main recommendations of Plowden in the foreseeable future, or, in the circumstances, is he putting off his decision because of those considerations?

Mr. Crosland

The education part of the National Plan is still being carried out, and I have every expectation that it will be carried out, so I think that the hon. Gentleman's question may be based on a false assumption. As to why I am not yet ready to make a statement, the main reason, as hon. Members know from the debate we had, is that I have asked for the views of all the major associations of the 197 recommendations of the Plowden Report, and there are two important associations which have not yet submitted their views to me.

Sir E. Boyle

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement on the recommendations before the House rises for the Summer Recess? Second, will he consider the representations made from this side on a number of points which do not involve great expenditure, for example, the proposal for two entry dates a year instead of three?

Mr. Crosland

I would not like to commit myself to making a statement before the House rises, though I shall certainly try. On the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I agree that some of the recommendations do not involve expenditure, but, on the other hand, almost all the recommendations are closely interlinked and I think that it would not be just to the Report itself to make a series of piecemeal statements rather than one general statement.