§ 14. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with Reading County Borough Council on secondary reorganisation in the borough.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have nothing to add to what I told the hon. Member on 30th January. I assume that the authority's working party is still considering the issues involved.—[Vol. 776, c. 1510–11.]
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMeanwhile, to assist us, would I be correct in understanding from previous Answers today that, as the law stands, the right hon. Gentleman has no power to enforce upon Reading Borough Council a secondary reorganisàtion plan of which it disapproves?
§ Mr. ShortI do not quite know the purpose of that question. As I understand it, the Reading Borough Council 637 has a working party studying this at the moment. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will help it and not hinder it.