§ Q31. Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on implementation by local authorities of the Government's education reforms.
§ The Prime MinisterLocal authorities are making satisfactory progress with implementing the Government's education reforms which will increase parental choice in the schooling for their children and increase the say of parents in the way the schools are run. In England and Wales, preparations for local management of schools and colleges are on target and the implementation of the national curriculum is going well. In Scotland, establishment of school boards for education authority schools is proceeding well, and authorities are participating in all aspects of our initiatives on curriculum and assessment for five to 14-year-olds.