§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is her policy towards the initiative of the Southampton Steering Committee for In-Service Education and Training, representing all teacher's organisations, the college of education, the university's education department, the Quinculum Development Centre and the local education authority, in arranging a series of regional conferences on educational matters;
(2) whether she intends to accept the invitation to attend any of the regional conferences on education organised by the Southampton Steering Committee for In-Service Education and Training.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend welcomes local initiatives of this kind. My right hon. Friend was invited to address one of a series of conferences organised by the Southampton Steering Committee but was unable to attend. I agreed to attend in her place. I was later informed by an officer of the Hampshire LEA that the LEA as such had not been aware of the arrangements for the conferences, and on behalf of the authority he withdrew the invitation. I understand that arrangements to hold the conference are, however, still under discussion.
Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will set out fully the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of the Undersecretary of State from opening the discussion conference of teachers and representatives of the local community planned to take place in Southampton on 12th July 1977.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI was invited to address one of a series of conferences organised by the Southampton Steering Committee but I was unable to accept the 555W invitation. My hon. Friend the Undersecretary of State agreed to attend in my place. She was later informed by the area education officer of the Hampshire LEA that the invitation was withdrawn on the grounds that the timing was inappropriate.