HC Deb 17 April 1969 vol 781 cc1315-6
19. Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present distribution of education between the private and publicly-financed sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Bacon

No, Sir. But the existence of both sectors is an historical fact. I have no statement to make at present.

Mr. Biffen

Does the hon. Lady's Answer of "No" mean that she is dissatisfied and is it therefore the policy of the Government to diminish the private sector? Are we to understand that she underwrites the hostile and reactionary speech of her right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology about private education which was made recently?

Miss Bacon

The hon. Gentleman asked if I was satisfied with the present distribution of education between the private and the publicly-financed sectors. I said "No, Sir", and I meant that I was not satisfied with it.

Sir E. Boyle

If the right hon. Lady is not satisfied, does that mean that she is proposing to go back on the pledge given by successive Ministers and Secretaries of State that the private sector has a right to exist?

Miss Bacon

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government are still considering the first Report of the Public Schools Commission and are not yet ready to make a statement about it. The second report on day schools and direct grant schools is expected later this year.

Mr. Christopher Price

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us were most disappointed that her Department did not manage to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to include in the Budget those recommendations about the finances of the private sector of the public schools which were in the first Report of the Public Schools Commission? Having failed to do so in this Budget, would my right hon. Friend urge the Chancellor to do this perhaps in his next Budget?

Miss Bacon

I take note of what my hon. Friend has said.

25. Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to enable him to adjust the distribution of educational resources between the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Bacon

I am not sure precisely what my hon. Friend may have in mind but any statement on this general question would be premature at the present time.

Mr. Price

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is disappointing to see that she is not sure what I have in mind? Is she aware that, while allowing a private sector to exist and assenting to that principle, the size of the public and private sectors in the educational system can be just as big, or as small, as the Government want them to be? When her right hon. Friend makes the statement on the Public Schools Commission will he state a policy about the size of the two sectors?

Miss Bacon

Yes. As I said in answer to a previous Question, my right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make the statement about the Public Schools Commission. I hope that when he does so my hon. Friend will be pleased with what he has to say.

Mr. Longden

As the right hon. Lady, unlike her hon. Friend, has responsibility for raising money for the State sector, is she not grateful for those who take some of the burdens off the State?

Miss Bacon

No, I would not go along with that argument. [Interuption.] Indeed, it might be argued that in some respects it is the other way round.