§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it was decided to discontinue the designation of areas of high social deprivation as EPAs and for what reason; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RossThere has been no formal designation of particular areas as educational priority areas. This is a term144W which came to be applied to the four localities in England and one in Scotland which were the subject of a research programme which has now ended.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the remedial measures he has initiated in Dundee consequent on the publication of HMSO/ISBN/0/11/ 491131/2, Educational Priority/EPA, a Scottish Study, Vol. 5; and whether he will initiate a similar study in the Bowhouse area of Alloa.
§ Mr. William RossThe publication referred to is one of the series of reports following completion of the three-year programme of research in five urban areas in Great Britain, including Dundee. The measures taken in Dundee were taken by the education authority and I understand they are being continued.
The report of the Dundee project has been commended to education authorities; it is now for them to consider whether to follow up the recommendation made in the report, in Bowhouse or elsewhere. I have undertaken to take into account the findings of the report in considering a long-term strategy for help to the educationally disadvantaged.