HC Deb 03 November 1987 vol 121 cc774-5
9. Mr. Allen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will place in the Library a copy of those representations he has received in relation to his consultative paper, "Admission of Pupils to Maintained Schools"; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

Copies of all letters received from organisations in response to this consultation paper have been placed in the Library. Without their express consent we would not feel entitled to do the same with responses from individuals.

Mr. Allen

Will the team on the Government Front Bench demonstrate the quality for which they are most renowned in the nation—their humility—and apologise, not only to the House, but to parents, teachers and the nation for the amount of time that was allowed for consultation on the proposals? Will they do a courtesy to the House by allowing a genuine and full analysis of the responses to all those consultations rather than trying to fob us off again? Will the—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Only one question, please.

Mr. Allen

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Time is getting on. The hon. Gentleman has already asked two questions.

Mr. Allen

Finally—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]

Mrs. Rumbold

I think that I can remember the question. I remind the hon. Gentleman that we received in excess of 14,000 responses to our consultation documents. The responses from those organisations which it is possible to publish are in the Library, but we have maintained the view that without the permission of the people who have written individual letters it is not possible for us to publish them.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Is my hon. Friend aware that far from any further delay from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) or anyone else, we want urgent action to improve choice for parents? There is no justification for artificially restricting admission to good schools to protect inadequate ones.

Mrs. Rumbold

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. People are waiting urgently for action to obtain better and greater parental choice for their children.

Mr. Straw

Since an analysis of the responses has already been prepared by Department of Education and Science officials for Ministers, why are Ministers now keeping it from the House? Is it that they are scared to reveal that, overwhelmingly, the responses not only from Labour authorities but from Conservative authorities and parents' organisations indicate opposition to these damaging and dangerous proposals?

Mrs. Rumbold

The view of the majority of respondents on the principle of open enrolment was that parental choice should be met. Within the responses that we had comments were not expressed in such a way as to make it possible for me to say precisely how many respondents were for or against the proposals, or any particular aspect of those proposals.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

While I welcome my hon. Friend's comments about open enrolment, may I ask whether she is aware that many Conservative Members believe that we ought to have an experiment with education vouchers?

Mrs. Rumbold

I am not advocating an experiment with education vouchers at present. We are advocating many proposals which we believe will all lead directly to great improvements in the educational system for children in the maintained sector.