§ 10. Mr. Maplesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning the future of the Inner London education authority.
§ Sir Keith JosephAbout 1,600. About 1,300 express concern in general terms about the future of the ILEA. The remaining 300 or so consider the specific proposals for the ILEA in the White Paper, "Streamlining the Cities", and the consultation paper, "Involving the boroughs in inner London education". With very few exceptions, these latter representations welcome the retention of a single education authority for inner London, and about half of them express a preference for a directly elected joint board, in contrast to the White Paper proposal for a joint board whose members are appointed by the inner London boroughs and the Common Council.
§ Mr. MaplesIn view of those representations, would my right hon. Friend give further consideration to the proposal that the new ILEA should be a directly elected authority?
§ Sir Keith JosephThere are attractions in the idea, but the problem is that the Government seek that the responsibility for running all the local authority services should rest with the boroughs and districts. That is the main reason why, on the whole, we prefer the proposal in the White Paper.
§ Mr. DubsWill the Secretary of State confirm that he has had virtually no representations supporting his own policies? That is the experience of my postbag. Will he further confirm that the Government's proposals are highly unpopular with the people of London who are concerned to have decent education, and not his ridiculous proposals?
§ Sir Keith JosephI do not think that the hon. Gentleman is entitled to speak for all the people of London. I certainly do not despair of persuading public opinion that the proposal of the Government for the implementation of the popular decision to replace the ILEA is the right one.
§ Mr. YeoDoes my right hon. Friend agree that, whatever the future structure of the ILEA, one of the most worrying trends at present is its pursuit of purely political campaigns, thereby diverting resources that should be used for education into politics? Will he consider taking steps to amend the law to prevent the ILEA or, indeed, any other education authority, from doing this?
§ Sir Keith JosephNo, I do not think amendment of the law is necessary, but I do think that the alarmist and very politicised campaign by the ILEA is treachery to its own higher purposes.
§ Mr. Peter BruinvelsIs my right hon. Friend aware of the money that the Inner London education authority is spending at present? It is living as if there were no tomorrow. It desperately needs financial control —[Interruption.] As a school governor I have already come across many instances of gross waste of money. The ILEA desperately needs to be abolished.
§ Sir Keith JosephMy hon. Friend is right in saying that, subject to the decision of this House, the ILEA as it is today has no tomorrow, but the elected members should surely recognise that their prime duty is to the children.