§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in each of the education and library board areas in Northern Ireland, how many State schools closed for a school day during the Papal visit to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. Goodhart[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1979. c. 213]: Sixty-seven 370W controlled schools were closed in Northern Ireland on 1 October and I do not believe that any useful purpose would be served by going into further detail.
School authorities were advised by circular that any school which wished to close on that day could do so and that such closing could be regarded as exceptional under the regulations governing the operation of the school year.