County and Voluntary Schools

HC Deb 11 December 1973 vol 866 c189

18. Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on her policy with regard to Section 13 of the Education Act 1944 (Establishment and discontinuance of county and voluntary schools).

Mrs. Thatcher

The policy remains as outlined in Circular 10/70.

Mr. Jones

Is the right hon. Lady aware of the disquiet over her interpretation of her powers in Section 13? Is her policy not designed to make it difficult for any local education authority to implement comprehensive schemes?

Mrs. Thatcher

No. The people who dislike the decisions dislike them because they dislike the policy. I am not here to implement a Socialist education policy.

Mr. Armstrong

Is it not time that the Secretary of State accepted her full responsibility instead of hiding behind separate schemes? Should she not tell the country where she stands on selection and secondary reorganisation?

Mrs. Thatcher

I accept full responsibility. It is open to anyone who claims that his interests are adversely affected by one of my decisions to test the validity of his claim in the courts.