§ 23. Mr. Dudley Smithasked 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 ShortNot until I have considered the second report of the Public Schools Commission.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn 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. ShortI 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. MitchellCan the Secretary of State think of a single educational reason for the continuation of the direct grant system?
§ Mr. ShortAs 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 612 the life of me see why we should use public funds for that purpose.
§ Mrs. ThatcherWhen does the Minister expect to receive the report of the Donnison Commission? We were expecting it before now.
§ Mr. ShortI 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.