§ Mr. HoltTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon), first met Ms. Esther Rantzen to discuss child abuse; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, when he first met Ms. Esther Rantzen to discuss child abuse; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FallonMy officials and I met Ms. Rantzen on 26 November, not in October, as alleged in an article inThe People, dated 10 February. She told us of some material which she thought might warrant investigation. It was not until 20 December we had sufficient material from her office to investigate. Any allegation of this kind relating to teachers' misconduct is investigated urgently and thoroughly.