§ 5. Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has recently received for the reorganisation of secondary education.
§ Mr. DunnThe three most recent proposals to have been submitted to my right hon. Friend for a major reorganisation of secondary education were for areas in the Avon, Trafford and Manchester local education authorities. Two were published on 1 December 1983 and the third on 6 December 1983.
§ Mr. ProctorWill my hon. Friend confirm that neither he nor our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will stand in the way of those local education authorities which wish to introduce an element of selection into secondary education or reintroduce grammar schools if they think that that is appropriate in their locality?
§ Mr. DunnIt is well known that local education authorities are now free to consider the patterns of school organisation as they see fit. Such reorganisation may include grammar, technical, music, or any other form of school that the authority wishes to propose. By law, any such proposals must come before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, who will decide each case on its merits.
§ Mr. Tony LloydWill the Minister tell the House that he will not, on ideological grounds, stand in the way of an attempt by the Salford diocese to reform the Catholic education system in the north of Trafford along comprehensive lines, as the local authority, having failed to put forward any arguments against the proposals, has at a late stage tried to jeopardise them by putting forward an objection on completely specious grounds?
§ Mr. DunnThe House will know that I cannot comment on any particular proposal which is before us or which may come before us. I repeat, for the benefit of the hon. Gentleman, that my right hon. Friend will look at each case on its merits and will consider the proposals and the objections fully and carefully.