§ 3.28 p.m.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the making of new instruments and articles of government for voluntary schools in accordance with the Education Act 1980.
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, apart from individual new and reorganised schools which have to be dealt with ad hoc, applications for new instruments of government for voluntary schools are, as far as possible, being handled on a diocesan basis. The Act does not affect articles of government. Two dioceses' applications have been dealt with completely and draft final documents for a further five are currently out for formal consultation. Preliminary work on the other 24 applications received is in hand. Together, these applications relate to about a third of the 8,100 voluntary schools in England. Applications are expected shortly in respect of the remaining schools, including the 320 voluntary schools in Wales.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that, even though he said that these applications are in hand, there is considerable demand at the moment for the instruments of government to be introduced as quickly as possible? Will he therefore take every possible step to bring them forward as soon as he can?
§ The Earl of SwintonYes, my Lords, I am indeed aware of that. I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, will also be aware that his own committee thought that this task would take up to five years. In the light of progress that has been made, the Government are currently consulting on the proposal that all schools should be mandatorily required to have new-style governing bodies by 1st September 1985. An announcement will be made shortly.
§ The Lord Bishop of LondonMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that in many dioceses the Church has been unfairly blamed for the delay? The national press stated that the governors of Church schools were resisting the move for new instruments because they involved parent-governor elections, and that this was the reason why the department is now sending a reminder of the need to get on. Is he aware that the situation is quite the reverse and that the Church has done its utmost to hasten matters, sometimes, I dare say, to the embarrassment of the department? We recognise the considerable burden that is placed on the department in dealing with these proposals. Will the noble Earl confirm that the situation is as I have described it, and not as reported in the press and elsewhere?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, I am grateful to the right reverend Prelate for making that point. I do not think that there has been any delay either on behalf of the Churches, if I may say so, or on behalf of the department. Although it sounds as though there may be delay, in fact there is not. Instruments for voluntary schools are made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State on request by the voluntary body concerned; but subject to the outcome of formal local consultations required under the 1944 Act. This is a long-winded procedure and to make it as straightforward as possible voluntary bodies are undertaking informal consultations prior to making their applications. The general state of preparedness is thus much greater than it seems on the surface.
§ Baroness DavidMy Lords, how long does an application to the department for a new instrument take from the time that the department receives it until the time that it is agreed and the answer goes back? Is the department trying to hurry the process up in the light of the Government's strong pressure for parent involvement in every aspect of school life?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, I cannot give the noble Baroness a definite timetable of how long it takes. As I said in my last Answer, I think that it rather depends on how much preparation has been done before the application is received. The department is very aware of the need for speed and its staffing has been strengthened appropriately to deal with this substantial task.