HC Deb 16 May 1978 vol 950 cc232-3
14. Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the current year's school leavers will have received all of their secondary school education in a comprehensive school.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

I am afraid that the information requested is not available, because the information we collect on pupils leaving school includes only the school last attended and not any other secondary schools pupils may have attended in the course of their secondary education.

Mr. Litterick

I am grateful for that answer. Does it not point to the fact that the various wild comments made by Conservatives about the effect of comprehensive education are based on ignorance and emanate from bigotry?

Mrs. Williams

In 1973, of those leaving school 51 per cent. had attended comprehensive schools, and the figure has now risen to over 80 per cent. That seems to be a development in the right direction. It is interesting that the Conservative Party is almost wholly schizophrenic on the subject of comprehensive schools. We should like to know its true opinion.

Mr. Rhodes James

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the eldest daughter of the hon. Member for Cambridge is leaving a comprehensive school this year, that we are delighted with her progress and that we believe in the comprehensive system, but as our own free choice?

Mrs. Williams

I am delighted to hear that the comprehensive school has pleased the hon. Gentleman so much. I do not know what party that leaves his children to become members of.

Mr. Ashton

Will my right hon. Friend make it perfectly clear to those Tory county councils, such as my own in Nottinghamshire, which are deliberately stalling and determined not to bring comprehensive education into the area that she will not stand for it? Is she aware that when Clay Cross took on the Tory Government in 1973 and defied the law, the Tory Government leaned on it very hard indeed? Can she now do the same to those Tory county councils which are refusing to bring in comprehensive education?

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend will know that we have made absolutely clear to those authorities which have not yet submitted schemes, or submitted revised schemes, that the law must take its course in this case, as under all other Acts of Parliament.