HC Deb 15 June 1972 vol 838 cc1705-6
10. Mr. Laurance Reed

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria she intends to use in accepting or rejecting schemes for comprehensive education in Bolton that will be submitted to her by the newly elected council.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Each proposal is judged on its merits and in the light of any objections which may be made. General criteria were set out in Circular 10/70.

Mr. Reed

May I ask my hon. Friend to pay special heed to objectivity in consultations which may take place with parents and teachers, and also to the fact that the existing system in Bolton produces exceptional academic results to the benefit of a large number of children from poorer homes?

Mr. van Straubenzee

If the inference of that supplementary question is that I think that there may not be objective consultation, that obviously would be a very proper ground for making objection to my right hon. Friend when and if the time comes.

Mr. Whitehead

If each scheme is judged on its merits, why has no reply to the scheme submitted to the Department by Derby been forthcoming for many months, although the local authority—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Question is about Bolton.

Mr. Redmond

When my hon. Friend gets representations from the new Corporation of Bolton, will he bear in mind that at the recent election the majority of people voted Conservative and were therefore against any change in the education system in the borough?

Mr. van Straubenzee

That merely shows how very high in our estimation are the people of Bolton.

Mr. Marks

In considering these proposals, will the hon. Gentleman consider also the recent report by the National Foundation for Educational Research on comprehensive schools, which suggested that evidence against large schools is negligible and that children above average ability do not suffer through being with less able children?

Mr. van Straubenzee

Obviously, all reports of this nature and of any kind are under constant scrutiny. But in the short space of question and answer, I must say that I do not think that the conclusions are quite as simple as the hon. Gentleman suggests.