HL Deb 05 July 1979 vol 401 cc503-5

3.10 p.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they endorse the decision of Ealing Council to sell the Twyford High School to the Church of England.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Baroness Young)

My Lords, I am aware that negotiations have been taking place between the Ealing Borough Council and representatives of the Church of England about the possible sale of Twyford High School. Before the borough could close the school or the Church authorities establish an aided school in the premises, proposals to this effect would have to be approved by the Secretary of State under Section 13 of the 1944 Education Act. As my right honourable and learned friend would be called upon to make a determination if proposals are received, it would not be appropriate for me to express a view either in support of, or opposed to, the sale of the school before the content of proposals and objections has been carefully considered.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. Is it not the case that this is a highly respected, multiracial school with a very large proportion of the children holding faiths other than that of the Church of England? Is it not the case that all the trade unions at the school—the teachers' unions—are opposed to the transfer, and that the parents association is opposed to it, too? Is this not a case where, as has been suggested, the Minister should seek to reach a decision on the matter when the negotiations are ended?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, admissions to an aided school are of course the responsibility of the governors, but, before such a situation was reached, the points which the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, has made, and indeed other points that undoubtedly would also be made, would naturally all be before the Secretary of State and would be considered before a final decision was taken.

The Lord Bishop of LONDON

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that this school is needed in order to match up to the first and middle Church schools; that there is very considerable support in Ealing for the school; and that it is not regarded as a sectional school, but as a contribution to the society and the community by the Church of England, so as to offer the kind of education that can be given in a Church school to the community as a whole?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I am aware of the points that the right reverend Prelate has made and they, too, will be considered when the application, should it be made, is before my right honourable and learned friend.

Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGER

My Lords, is not this a rather unusual procedure? Can the noble Baroness tell us whether there are any precedents for it? Does it mean merely that the Ealing Borough Council is short of money and that the Church of England has got more; or what?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, the proposal is perfectly in order. With regard to finance, it is a separate issue as to whether or not the Section 13 proposal would be approved. I think it would be only right to say that in the present economic circumstances it would be unlikely that the borough council would receive more money than it would expect to do under its building programme.

Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGER

My Lords, would the noble Baroness answer the first part of my question; namely, whether there are any precedents of schools being sold in this way?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I would have to write to the noble Baroness on that point.