HC Deb 01 December 1981 vol 14 cc129-30
9. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on 12 November, Official Report, c. 160, he is now in a position to make a statement on the report of the Cockcroft committee relating to the teaching of mathematics in secondary schools.

Mr. William Shelton

My right hon. Friend is arranging for the report to be published as soon as possible. We expect it to be of wide interest to parents and employers as well as to the education service.

Mr. Madel

Does my hon. Friend agree that, whatever the conclusions of that report, local education authorities should use the advantage of falling rolls substantially to step up in-service training and retraining in this subject?

Mr. Shelton

I recognise my hon. Friend's interest in this matter, and I entirely agree with him.

Mr. Christopher Price

Can the hon. Gentleman give us a date for publication, as everyone wants to read the report, not least the Select Committee?

Mr. Shelton

The report was received on 10 November. I assure the hon. Gentleman that it will be published early in the new year.