HC Deb 05 February 1970 vol 795 cc611-2
23. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement about the future of the direct grant schools.

Mr. Edward Short

Not until I have considered the second report of the Public Schools Commission.

Mr. Dudley Smith

In view of the Minister's well-known hostility to direct grant schools, does not he think that it would be far fairer to say now that he intends to abolish them, just as he proposes to do with the grammar schools?

Mr. Short

I have no hostility to any good, efficient school. What I have hostility to is public funds being used to preserve selection in areas where local authorities have abolished it.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Can the Secretary of State think of a single educational reason for the continuation of the direct grant system?

Mr. Short

As I said, direct grant schools in many towns, including the town of which my constituency is a part, preserve selection when the local authority has abolished it, and I cannot for the life of me see why we should use public funds for that purpose.

Mrs. Thatcher

When does the Minister expect to receive the report of the Donnison Commission? We were expecting it before now.

Mr. Short

I understand that I shall receive my copy very shortly. It will be printed, and, as soon as it is available, it will be made public.