Education (Hansard, 16 July 1981)

§ 10. Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives the Government are taking to encourage the use of the provisions of the Education (Northern Ireland) Act 1978; and how much support it is giving to the plan to open an integrated non-sectarian school in Belfast in September.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. John Patten)
The decision to seek controlled integrated school status under the Act is a matter for the transferor representatives in the case of a controlled school or for the trustees in the case of a voluntary school. The Government have made it clear that they will support integration wherever practical proposals are put forward and there is a local wish for it.
As to Lagan college, to which I think my hon. Friend refers, this school will be established as an independent school. The founders—the All Children Together Charitable Trust—have been told that the Government will give them whatever assistance they can, consistent with that status, and it will, of course, be open to them to apply for grant-aided status whenever they consider it appropriate to do so.

§ Mr. Winterton
I am most grateful to my hon. Friend for that very full reply. While he and I, and no doubt all Members of the House, fully appreciate the part that Church schools can play in education, is he aware that there is considerable support among the Roman Catholic population of Ulster for integrated non-sectarian education? Will he and the Government do their utmost to support integrated non-sectarian education and provide the necessary finance for it to take off in a big way?

§ Mr. Patten
Of course—wherever there is clear evidence that members of the local communities and the parents of children wish that to happen. The Government constantly face the dilemma of a society which, on the one hand, seems so divided, with segregated housing, but which, on the other hand, produces opinions to the effect that, perhaps, there should be more integrated education.
It is difficult for the Government to judge how far one can force on any society—we certainly do not on this side of the water—education of one sort or another against the wishes of parents. At the same time, it is worth drawing to the attention of the House the fact that there are schools in Northern Ireland attended by both Roman Catholic and Protestant children and that such schools function normally and well.

§ Mr. Hardy
As the hon. Member responsible for that Act, I recognise the limitations to which the Minister has referred. During the next year or so, will the Government carry out a thorough review of the movement towards desegregation within schools and other education institutions in Northern Ireland, and perhaps publish a detailed report?

§ Mr. Patten
I shall draw the hon. Gentleman's comments to the attention of my noble Friend, who is the Minister responsible.

§ Mr. Kilfedder
As the Government recognise that there is a deep division in Northern Ireland over housing and every other matter, surely their duty is to stop paying taxpayers' money for the maintenance of religious apartheid in education. They must face up to their responsibilities some time.

§ Mr. Patten
The Government always face up to their responsibilities. They in no way support religious apartheid in Northern Ireland. Apartheid is the forced separation of different races or communities, but there are schools in Northern Ireland which Protestant and Roman Catholic children attend together.