§ 24. Sir John Biggs-DavisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, in view of Her Majesty's Government's intended changes in the education system, designed to give more choice and influence to parents, he accepted in advance of those changes proposals of the Essex education authority for the 525W reorganisation of secondary education in Epping forest, which involved the ending of single sex education in the maintained sector there; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThese proposals were made under the Education Act 1980 and my right hon. Friend carried out his statutory duty to consider them under that legislation. He concluded that on balance the advantages they offered outweighed their disadvantages, including the loss of single sex provision.