§ 24. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the course of her discussions on the general state of education, she has yet had talks with representatives in the private sector; and if not, whether she intends to have such discussions and with whom.
§ Mr. OakesWhile my right hon. Friend has met representatives of the private sector on matters of direct concern to them she has not done so in the context of current consultations on the general state of education nor has she any plans to do so. The major concern of the recent regional conferences and the forthcoming 125W consultative document is with the publicly maintained schools system.
§ 45. Mr. Wardasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has completed consultations on the returns by local education authorities of their arrangements for the assistance of pupils attending independent schools; whether she proposes to revoke previous approval of any such arrangements; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend is considering the information submitted to her by local education authorities in response to Circular 12/76 about their present arrangements for the support of education in non-maintained schools. She then intends to send to the local authority associations the draft of a circular setting out the circumstances in which such arrangements might receive approval. In addition my right hon. Friend will be initiating discussions with local authorities whose present arrangements do not appear to be compatble with the guidelines it will contain, to consider whether their approval should be revoked.