§ Mr. Denmanasked the Minister of Education whether he will use his powers under the Education Act, 1944, to preserve suitable grammar schools, either by extending the direct grant list or otherwise, from being absorbed into the class of maintained schools until the school-leaving age is raised to 16 years and L.E.A.s are able to fulfil their statutory functions of providing opportunities for secondary 1502W education for all pupils, as far as practicable in accordance with the wishes of their parents.
§ Mr. LawUnder Section 11 of the Education Act, 1944, every local education authority is required to prepare and submit to the Minister, within one year after the date of the commencement of Part: II of the Act or within such extended period as the Minister may in any particular case allow, a development plan which shall specify, inter alia, which of the secondary schools in the area are to be maintained schools. I have no power, therefore, to postpone until the school-leaving age is raised to 16 a decision on the question whether particular grammar schools shall be maintained by the local education authority. The question of recognising schools as direct grant grammar schools has been dealt in Circular 32 dated 16th March, 1945, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.