HC Deb 24 January 1996 vol 270 cc346-8
14. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to improve security arrangements for primary and secondary schools. [9429]

Mr. Robin Squire

Following the tragic death of Philip Lawrence, my right hon. Friend has established a high-level working group to advise urgently on what more should be done to improve security in and around schools.

Mr. Coombs

Does my hon. Friend agree that the appalling death of Philip Lawrence is a symptom of the wider problem of indiscipline in the classroom? What hope can he give the House that the Government are prepared to take the measures necessary to ensure that the 5 per cent. of pupils who are disruptive and unruly will not in future be allowed to disrupt the education of the 95 per cent. of pupils who want to learn?

Mr. Squire

My hon. Friend draws attention to a subject that the House was discussing earlier. I reaffirm that the Government are utterly committed to all teachers and schools having a full range of measures open to them for tackling indiscipline. We are well aware of the urgency of the matter. The high-level group is discussing practical measures to improve school security, including updating and reissuing the Department's guidance on school premises.

Mr. Madden

Does the Minister agree that large-scale temporary classrooms and crumbling old schools present an attractive target to vandals and criminals? Will he confirm that there are a large number of temporary classrooms and crumbling old schools in Bradford? Does he understand why we were gobsmacked when, in the latest capital allocations, Bradford received just £4 million of the more than £40 million requested to deal with the problem? Instead of denigrating Bradford children and their examination results as the Minister did again today, when will the Government give Bradford the resources to ensure that all our children are given the most decent start in life and the best facilities possible to maximise their performance?

Mr. Squire

As the hon. Member well knows, the capital allocation formula is a universal one that is applied to all authorities, and the priorities were drawn up more than 10 years ago. Bradford is no more or less disadvantaged than any other authority. If the implication at the heart of his question is that in some way the state of a building is responsible for indiscipline or bad behaviour, I beg to disagree. There are clearly several causes, including a need for greater parental control and involvement, and—in some places—a need for greater teacher skills. I made reference earlier to the efforts that the Government are making, in partnership with local education authorities and the Teacher Training Agency, to ensure that those skills are more widely practised.

Mr. Atkins

Will my hon. Friend examine the security arrangements and ancillary matters at Lostock Hall high school in my constituency? Labour county councillors and Labour activists are seeking to frustrate the wishes of the parents in the ballot on grant-maintained status that is being held at the school this week. Such are the antics that extreme disquiet has been expressed by parents and governors alike. Will my hon. Friend invite the Labour party to desist from involving its local members politically in what should be an educational decision that will affect the future of the children at that school and their parents?

Mr. Squire

My hon. Friend will understand if I do not comment on the specific example that he has given, especially as the ballot is in progress. I can say that, sadly, what he has described, if it is happening, is only too reminiscent of what colleagues have reported when either Labour or Liberal Democrat councillors seek to frustrate and disrupt a ballot on grant-maintained status. It is for that reason, if no other, that any comments from Opposition Members that they are truly and deeply supportive of GM schools must be dismissed as garbage.