HC Deb 01 April 1971 vol 814 c1660
16. Mr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has with local education authorities before approving her major secondary school building programme.

Mrs. Thatcher

I invite each local education authority to submit proposals in order of priority. My officers generally discuss these with the authority concerned before the programme is drawn up.

Mr. Clark

Will the Minister clarify this point? She invites local education authorities to submit a list of priorities, and obviously she has respect to those priorities. Has the West Riding not issued its list in order of priority?

Mrs. Thatcher

That emerged from the answer to the last Question. The West Riding has not submitted its list in order of priority. Usually the order emerges in the course of discussions between our officials and the local education authority.