§ 17. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what 1540 firm proposals she has received for development of comprehensive education in Bolsover.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeNone, Sir.
§ Mr. SkinnerThat does not surprise me. We have a Tory county council, and that has not changed hands. That will take place next year.
§ Does not the hon. Gentleman understand that what makes it even worse is that when children in the Bolsover Urban District Council area of Stanfree pass the 11-plus, it costs £2 a week to send a child to the Staveley Grammar School —£1.20 in bus fares and the rest in school meals? Will he tell the Tory-controlled Derbyshire County Council to do something about it?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe complexion of the central Government or, indeed, of the county council has nothing to do with this. Funds are not available for the sole purpose of secondary school reorganisation, and were not available under the previous Government. The hon. Gentleman is therefore criticising his own Administration.