HC Deb 26 July 1977 vol 936 cc283-4
4. Mr. Tim Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the proposed changes in the governing structure of the Schools Council.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

On 7th July the governing council of the Schools Council accepted an interim report proposing a new structure for the Council. I welcome the Council's readiness to take a radical look at its method of operating. Although a good deal remains to be done before changes can be made, there has been progress and I hope that a satisfactory conclusion can be reached at the Council's next meeting.

Mr. Smith

Does the Secretary of State consider that the proposal for two parent representatives out of a total of 53 on the Schools Council is adequate? Does she consider that the representations of lay interests have been accommodated sufficiently? What view does she take about the proposed exclusion from all three bodies of representatives of the independent schools?

Mrs. Williams

I am not sure whether the hon. Member is aware that the review is not being conducted by me. The Schools Council is conducting it. Therefore, it would not be right and proper for me to comment at this stage on the interim report. In that report the Schools Council has gone a long way greatly to increase lay representation. It has accepted the majority representations for both a convocation and a finance and priorities committee, and in doing so it has reflected the recommendation of the Tenth Report of the Expenditure Committee of this House. I believe that this is encouraging progress.

Dr. Boyson

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is considerable agreement about the broadening of the lay element in the Schools Council? However, is she also aware that there is concern in other matters in addition to those mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Smith) a moment ago? There is concern about the fact that all teacher members, apart from one or two, are apparently drawn from the teaching unions and not from the professional bodies. Is she aware that in the convocation chamber the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the Free Churches and the representatives from the HNC and the GCE and CSE Examination Boards are no longer members by right and that this is causing great concern?

Mrs. Williams

Higher education interests and the Churches have made it clear how they feel about exclusion from membership. I am in no doubt that their representations and the comments made in this House will be taken seriously into account by the Schools Council. However, it would be neither right nor appropriate for me to tell the Schools Council at this stage what it should do. All I can do is ask it to consider the points that have been made by hon. Members.

Mr. Forman

Whatever the final recommendations of the review, will the Secretary of State confirm that the views of parents as a group will not be underestimated just because they do not have powerful representative organisations to bat on their behalf in the same way as the teachers and the local authorities do?

Mrs. Williams

That is a perfectly fair point. The Schools Council has been in existence for 12 years now, and this is the first occasion on which there has been a proposal that parents should be represented at all.