§ 24. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given to local education authorities in cases where they have failed to reach agreement concerning comprehensive reorganisation with voluntary aided secondary schools after discussions with their governors according to the terms of Circular 10/65.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerNone, Sir.
§ Mr. PriceIs my right hon. Friend aware that the headmaster of Wolverhampton Grammar School, the Chairman of the Aided Schools Association, has recently boasted that the status of those schools enables them to resist reorganisation? Is he aware that a city like Birmingham has so many aided schools that, unless they co-operate, it is quite impossible to go comprehensive at all?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerIt is very important that aided schools should co-operate in the introduction of comprehensive reorganisation. Although this has caused some trouble in particular localities, the denominations themselves have been extremely helpful and I should like to say how much I appreciate the way in which they have done their utmost to co-operate. In some areas there are special difficulties of geography or size of school, but on the whole this is going ahead not too badly.
§ Mr. Ronald BellWill the right hon. Gentleman say why people should be expected to co-operate in committing suicide?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerClearly, the denominations, who know a lot about suicide, do not share the hon. and learned Gentleman's view.
Mr. R. C. MitchellIs my right hon. Friend aware that in some areas the whole comprehensive system could be seriously jeopardised by the existence in the middle of one non-denominational — stress non-denominational—voluntary school?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerI agree. This can happen and is happening in certain cases, but if one puts it into perspective, I think that it will be seen that we shall 1541 make the best progress by local negotiation and with the aid in particular of the denominations.