§ Lord Harris of GreenwichMy 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 whether the Secretary of State for Education and Science is satisfied with the quality of the education service of the London Borough of Brent.
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, no. The Government are most concerned about the quality of the education service provided by the London Borough of Brent. Consequently, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has caused a special inspection to take place in accordance with his duty under Section 77 of the Education Act 1944. He will give careful consideration to the position in the light of HMI advice and will follow it up as appropriate.
§ Lord Harris of GreenwichMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that many of us are grateful to her for that profoundly satisfactory Answer? Is she further aware that, with regard to the position of Miss McGoldrick, she is now being proceeded against by the local authority by way of some form of disciplinary action, despite the fact that counsel for the local authority undertook to the Master of the Rolls that it would not dismiss her? Is she also aware of the case of Mr. Gwyn Powell, head of a department at Willesden College of Technology, who again is being proceeded against by the local authority and faces precisely the same charge as Miss McGoldrick? Is she aware that many of us regard this as no less than a shabby farce and the sooner the Secretary of State takes vigorous action to deal with that abuse of power by a local authority, the happier we shall all be?
§ Baroness HooperYes, indeed, my Lords. In connection with Miss McGoldrick, my right honourable friend was not satisfied with the authority's initial statement of its reasons for holding a disciplinary hearing. He asked the authority to provide immediately a more detailed explanation, which has now been received. He is considering whether further action would be appropriate. With regard to the case of Mr. Gwyn Powell, my right honourable friend is concerned about press reports, which, if accurate, paint a most deplorable picture. Officials in his department have asked the authority for the facts of the case, and that matter in turn will be pursued.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the Opposition welcome the Answer she gave to the main Question, welcome the special inspection which she has announced and agree with what has been said about the abuse of power by the council of the London Borough of Brent?
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his question. The speed with which the inspection programme has been mounted is clear evidence of the Government's concern. We acknowledge that the Labour Party, in the shape of its Leader, of its spokesman for education and of its spokesman for local government, has expressed its grave doubts over the McGoldrick affair.
§ Baroness CoxMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that there is currently an acute shortage of teachers in Brent but that Brent is refusing to advertise those posts in The Times Educational Supplement but is advertising them in Marxism Today, which is the journal of the Communist Party of Great Britain? Does she think that that method of advertising posts is likely to produce the best teachers for our schools in Brent?
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, we are aware of the position. Authorities are free to advertise where they want, but Brent's refusal to advertise in a widely read publication because of its political stance on an unrelated dispute is to be condemned. It is placing dogma before the needs of children. The recent Education (No. 2) Act gives increased powers to governing bodies on the recruitment of teachers, and we hope that they will use them.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that there are 104 education authorities in England and Wales and that the majority are good, first-class authorities, doing a splendid job under difficult circumstances?
§ Baroness HooperYes, my Lords, but that is a little away from the main Question.
§ Lord RentonMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that this local authority has policies which are calculated to destabilise our society, with very serious effects for the rising generations? Although I greatly welcome the steps which the Government propose to take, can she give us some idea of when we are likely to see the outcome of those steps?
§ Baroness HooperYes, my Lords. The programme of inspections began in mid-November. Her Majesty's Inspectorate is talking, among others, to advisers, teachers, parents and community groups, formally and informally, collectively and individually. This will continue until February, when it is expected that the report will shortly follow.
§ Lord SomersMy Lords, in view of the very large increase in salary which the council has recommended for the said professor, as well as back payments, can the noble Baroness say where the money is coming from? Is it coming from the local ratepayers?
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, I am not sure that I entirely take the noble Lord's point. If he is asking about the salaries of teachers, the financing comes from the local authority.
§ Lord Orr-EwingMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that Willesden College was at the edge of my constituency and has—
§ Lord Orr-EwingMy Lords, I said "was", not "is". Is my noble friend further aware that the college has had a high reputation for a long time and that Mr. Powell, with his 11 years of service there, has made a notable contribution to that reputation? Is she also aware that the habit of hard Left councils taking such action is spreading and has recently occurred in Nottingham? In view of an education Bill coming before this House after it has been through another place, is there a possibility that a provision could be added to it to discourage and prevent such occurrences?
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, the last part of my noble friend's supplementary question is indeed a new point. I hesitate to commit the Government but I shall certainly pass on those remarks to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. I can, of course, assure my noble friend that we are well aware of the situation at Willesden College of Technology, as well as the other incidents to which he referred.
§ Lord Harris of GreenwichMy Lords, will the noble Baroness undertake in respect of the case of Mr. Powell, which is causing widespread concern, to ask her right honourable friend to do his best to ensure that a Statement about this case is made before both Houses rise for the Christmas Recess?
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, I shall certainly convey the noble Lord's request to my right honourable friend, but, as I said, so far the department has only press reports to go on and the time between now and the recess is short.
§ Lord Alexander of PotterhillMy Lords, does not the noble Baroness agree that the tragedy for the education service started roughly 15 years ago? For 25 years, following the Education Act 1944, there were no party politics in education and the service made great progress. The tragedy now is that party politics seems to be more important than the education of our children.
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, as I said, the question of placing dogma before the needs of children is extremely reprehensible.