HC Deb 12 May 1981 vol 4 cc611-2
13. Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether following its overall examination of the service provided by the Inner London Education Authority he will ask Her Majesty's Inspectorate to make similar examinations of other education authorities.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

I rely on Her Majesty's Inspectorate for a range of information and advice relevant to policies on education. The information and advice is based on inspection and can, where appropriate, take the form of an assessment of the provision of education throughout a local education authority.

Mr. Dobson

In view of that reply, will the Secretary of State change his policies and ask HMI to publish an overall assessment of the education services provided, for example, by the Cheshire and Northamptonshire county councils? Alternatively, is the Secretary of State willing to rely entirely on the scrutiny of the electorate when assessing the value of the education service provided by those authorities?

Mr. Carlisle

Although I have the power to direct the inspectorate to carry out a particular form of investigation, I believe that it is better for the inspectorate to decide where it does its work and which schools it should inspect.

Mr. Bob Dunn

If ILEA is to be controlled by Labour, does my right hon. Friend accept that the leadership provided until recently by Sir Ashley Bramall was much more acceptable than the new leadership elected last Saturday is likely to be, bearing in mind that the new leadership is motivated more by the teachings of Karl Marx than by the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Mr. Carlisle

Sir Ashley and I have had many differences on policy matters, but he has led ILEA for 10 years. Everybody will accept that he has been extremely dedicated in that task. I share the distaste of many of the method by which he was removed from office.