§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses were received to the home-school contracts proposals in the White Paper "Excellence in Schools" and the consultation letter dated 8 August; how many(a) teacher organisations and (b) organisations representing the views of parents supported the introduction of home-school contracts; and if he will make a statement. [17763]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 25 November 1997]: Some 650 of the 3,500 respondents to the White Paper commented on our proposals for home-school 138W agreements; 73 organisations commented on the details given in the Department's letter of 8 August. Taking the responses as a whole, four out of the six teacher associations supported the proposal that all schools should have written home school agreements. Of the six parent organisations who commented, three were opposed to home-school agreements and three expressed support for the principle but did not feel they should be made a requirement. 148 of the parents who returned the tear-off section in the White Paper summary leaflet indicated their support for home-school agreements.