§ 5. Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from Church bodies on her proposals for fast-track opt-out for Church schools. [9419]
§ Mr. Robin SquireMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 69 representations from Church bodies on the Department's consultation paper on self-government for voluntary-aided schools. A summary of responses has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. JonesContrary to the impression that the Minister seeks to give, is not it true that Church schools have overwhelmingly rejected proposals for grant-maintained status? What lessons have the Government learnt from that? Surely that rejection will speed up the rejection of grant-maintained status across the country.
§ Mr. SquireThe inference to be drawn from the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is rather strange. He seems to suggest that, via a press release from the Government, attempts have been made to hide the result of the consultation. We have always made it clear, as we did in the Chamber two days ago, that we would consult—the Prime Minister made that clear in his speech in September. We listened to the results of that consultation and responded. The difference between the Labour party and the Government is that, too often, the Labour party is not prepared to consult, or even to listen, when the majority of people tell it that they like selective education.
§ Mr. CouchmanHas my hon. Friend had any representations from the Bishop of Southwark suggesting 340 that a Church school in Southwark should be opted out to replace St. Olave's so that the children of middle-class parents may be spared a 30-mile round trip to Orpington?
§ Mr. SquireWhile I cannot speak for the specific source mentioned in my hon. Friend's question, the obvious lesson from the events of the past few days for any voluntary-aided—let alone selective—school that has not yet opted out is to get going.