HC Deb 18 January 1977 vol 924 cc58-9
5. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the reorganisation of secondary education in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

Miss Margaret Jackson

My right hon. Friend wrote yesterday to the Calderdale Education Authority, requiring it under Section 2(1) of the Education Act 1976 to submit within six months proposals for reorganising all its remaining selective schools.

Mr. Madden

Does my hon. Friend agree that certain Tory councillors opposed to comprehensive education who dominate the local education authority have elevated obstruction to the introduction of comprehensive education into a political science? Although I welcome the fact that letters have now been issued by her Department, will she make it clear that the schemes so far submitted by this education authority have been wholly unacceptable to her Department?

Miss Jackson

It is the case that we are awaiting satisfactory proposals from this authority. As my hon. Friend is aware, the authority has some capital allocations which are dependent on suitable schemes coming forward.