§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to speed up the work of his Department in considering school reorganisation plans submitted to him.
Mr. BakerI have appointed Mr. J. A. M. Mitchell to undertake a scrutiny of the Department's procedures on school closures, with the purpose of speeding those procedures up.
§ Mr. SternMay I assure my right hon. Friend that that is a most welcome answer especially in a politically volatile area such as the county of Avon, where the disadvantage of delays in the programme of school reorganisation means that the beneficiary is often the successor administration?
Mr. BakerI agree with my hon. Friend. There have been quite unacceptable delays in coming to decisions. There is a proposal before me from the Avon local education authority, and I shall try to deal with it as expeditiously as I can.