§ 12. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the proposed reorganisation of secondary education in Liverpool which has been submitted to him.
§ Sir Keith JosephI have before me proposals for the reorganisation of Roman Catholic secondary education in the city of Liverpool and for the closure of Fairfield, Lawrence and Edge Hill county secondary schools. I am considering them carefully in the light of all relevant factors and will announce my decisions as quickly as I can.
§ Mr. ParryThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the grave concern over the possible closure of the St. Martin's Roman Catholic secondary school in the Toxteth area and also of the grave and massive concern over the proposed closure of the Croxteth comprehensive school. Will he look carefully at both those cases before he makes a final decision?
§ Sir Keith JosephIn all cases my colleagues and I look carefully at the reasons for the proposals and at the objections, as well as the education and social conditions. I undertake that that will be done in future, as it has been done in the past. As to Croxteth, I have already told the House that today I have written to a councillor concerned, and I am releasing the letter to Members of Parliament in the area and to the press.
§ Mr. AltonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that all three single-sex schools in Edge Hill constituency will close if the present proposals go through? It is particularly important that a single-sex alternative is available somewhere in the inner city, particularly in view of the needs of the Asian community, which particularly likes its young girls to attend single-sex schools.
§ Sir Keith JosephYes, and I am also aware that, along with one of our honourable colleagues, the hon. Gentleman led a deputation to see my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary.