§ Q13. Mr. Flanneryasked the Prime Minister if he has any intention, in view of the developments of the great debate on education, of making another speech as a further contribution to the debate; and if he will make a statement on developments so far.
§ The Prime MinisterI shall continue to take a close interest in the debate on education and its outcome, and will take any convenient opportunity to make a further speech. Since my speech at Ruskin College on 18th October 1976, eight regional conferences including one in Wales, have been held under ministerial chairmanship. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, for Education and Science has conducted two rounds of consultations, before and after the conferences. The second round of consultations has been used as an opportunity to invite views of what might be said on the main issues discussed at the conferences on the forthcoming Green Paper. The Green Paper will be published during the summer.