§ 2. Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to reorganise his Department.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Sir Keith Joseph)Separate information technology and architects and building branches have been established this year on 1 January and 1 February respectively. I have no plans for any further changes in the organisation of my Department.
§ Mr. SheermanGiven the variety of educational policies that have been espoused by the Secretary of State, his junior Minister, Lord Young and the Prime Minister, what structure of Department would the Secretary of State advise the Prime Minister to adopt and thus bring a notion of vision, clarity and purpose to a Government who seem to have no educational policy and who are fighting about it after seven years in office?
§ Sir Keith JosephI commend to the hon. Gentleman the policies set out and which are being implemented in "Better Schools". Such policies can be perfectly carried through by the Department of which presently I am the head. There is no need on account of those policies to make any changes.
§ Dr. HampsonWill my right hon. Friend initiate a move to end the binary division in higher education, where there is much overlap and duplication and a need for better use of resources? Many of us find it strange that the polytechnics, having increased the proportion of young people going into higher education, now contemplate a massive cut in places.
§ Sir Keith JosephI have to say to my hon. Friend that the report in The Times this morning about a decided cut in polytechnic places is rubbish. There is no need to change the organisation of the Department, of which I am presently the head, in the light of any decisions about binary or non-binary division in higher education.
§ Dr. OwenIs the Secretary of State aware that there are many people who believe that the time has come to merge the MSC with the Department of Education and Science, but think that it would be anathema if he were to nationalise the locally provided educational service and would see that as going against the spirit and purpose of the Education Act 1944?
§ Sir Keith JosephThere is no intention to nationalise the education service. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, merging one Department with another would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. Patrick McNair-WilsonWill my right hon. Friend warmly congratulate my hon. Friend the Minister of State on his speech last week? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the belief that there is genuine local control of education is a complete fiction, and will he take urgent 5 steps to transfer the cost of teachers salaries from local government to the central Exchequer and so take the burden off a handful of ratepayers?
§ Sir Keith JosephIn answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question—yes, enthusiastically. I agree with every word of my hon. Friend's speech. I understand that he has made the same speech in substance several times before, and I am glad that it has received the attention that it deserves. On the last part of my hon. Friend's question—no, Sir.