§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how 572W much has been taken up of the £25 million allocated under Circular 8/75 to the development of the comprehensive system.
§ Miss Joan LestorI expect that the projects in England to which my right hon. Friend referred to his Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 19th December will all be undertaken. The allocation of £2 million in Wales is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.—[Vol. 902, c. 865.]
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he is now setting about the optimum size of comprehensive secondary schools.
§ Mr. Bodyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines his Department has given on the size of comprehensive schools.
§ Miss Joan LestorThere is no single ideal size for a comprehensive school and my Department accordingly issues no guidelines on the question. It is for local education authorities or voluntary bodies to propose the establishment or reorganisation of schools. All such proposals, including the size of the schools involved, are considered on their merits.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities which have submitted bids for the £25 million earmarked by his Department for school building for comprehensive schemes announced in August 1975; and which authorities have had proposals approved by him to date.
§ Miss Joan LestorI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 19th December.
Projects have been accepted by my right hon. Friend as eligible to start within the £23 million set aside for England from all the remaining English authorities except for Bexley, Bolton, Bromley, Haringey, Isle of Wight, North Yorkshire, Richmond and Solihull. The allocation of £2 million in Wales is a 573W matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.—[Vol. 902, c. 866.]
§ Mr. Norman Lamontasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had further discussions with local authorities about the Government's plans for comprehensive education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyNo, but I should be happy to meet any authorities which wish to reconsider their position on secondary reorganisation.
§ Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with standard of education in all comprehensive schools.
§ Miss Joan LestorWithin any type of school the standard of education is bound to vary, so there can never be cause for entire satisfaction. Generally, however, standards have in many respects improved, and this is true of comprehensives.