HC Deb 28 January 1992 vol 202 c509W
23. Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards grammar schools.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The Government do not intend to impose any particular organisational pattern for schools. I believe in a diversity of provision of schools and I am ready to consider any application for change of character of school put forward by a local education authority for a maintained school or the governing body of a voluntary-aided or grant-maintained school. I will consider each application for a change of character from comprehensive to selective entry on its individual merits.

25. Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools have been closed since 1979.

Mr. Eggar

In January 1991 there were 106 fewer maintained grammar schools in England than there had been in January 1979. However it does not follow that this represents the number of actual closures in that period, since some of these may, for example, have merged with other schools, or transferred to the independent sector, or changed status within the maintained sector.