HC Deb 06 July 1976 vol 914 cc1145-7
3. Mr. Peter Morrison

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that sufficient freedom of choice is still available for parents with children of school age to permit the continued observance of the general principle, contained in Section 76 of the Education Act 1944, that pupils should be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.

Mr. Mulley

Yes, Sir. I fully accept the general principle that, so far as is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils should be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.

Mr. Morrison

If he is so satisfied, will the Minister issue a circular to all local authorities telling them to inform parents that they have the right to change the school in which their children are educated if they think their present school is unsuitable?

Mr. Mulley

We are consulting all the interests concerned about a possible circular of guidance, but if parents suddenly decide that they want to move a child from school A to school B, it may be necessary to throw another child out of school B to make a vacancy available. There can be complete freedom of choice only if there are surplus places, and I do not accept that that situation exists at present. That is why the words of Lord Butler which are the ones that I used in my main answer, are so apt in this situation.

Mr. Madden

Will my right hon. Friend comment on the appalling prospect facing parents in Elland, in my constituency, where proposals by certain Tory councillors, who are obsessed with wrecking comprehensive education, are aimed at undermining the excellent Brooksbank comprehensive school? If these proposals go ahead it will mean a return to selection and 11-plus in an area that abandoned them years ago. Does my right hon. Friend agree with the parents, the teachers, the pupils, the governors and the managers of the feeder schools, that these proposals are totally unacceptable and should be totally rejected?

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is not a time for making statements; it is a time for asking questions.

Mr. Mulley

If events are as my hon. Friend has described—and I have no reason to doubt his account—I can understand that there will be grave concern and anxiety in his area. I have a Bill before Parliament, but at the moment I am not in a position to require any authority to adopt any form of secondary education.