§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the objections received to the implementation of a three-tier comprehensive system, as submitted to him by the then Labour Nottinghamshire county council in late August 1976, and publish the reply she received from the director of education of Nottinghamshire county council in answer to these objections at that time; and how these relate to the current submission.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIn considering proposals made under section 13 of the Education Act 1944, it has been the practice of successive Secretaries of State not to publish either objections or the comments received from local education authorities. My right hon. Friend considers that this is, on balance, a sound practice as decisions are based on all relevant factors, including professional advice, and not only on a careful examination of objections and authorities' replies. I regret, therefore, that my right hon. Friend does not consider it appropriate to publish correspondence relating to the Nottingham county council's 1976 proposals for secondary reorganisation in Retford.