"SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE RIGHTS TOO!"

HL Deb 21 March 1978 vol 389 c1786WA

Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have seen the leaflet entitled "School Students have Rights Too!" which has been issued by the Labour Party Young Socialists from Transport House; whether they are aware that these leaflets are being distributed in schools in the Midlands; whether they support the policies contained in the leaflet; and whether it will now be withdrawn.

The MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge)

I have seen a copy of this leaflet, and I am aware that in, for example, one case in which copies were distributed within a school the pupil who distributed them on receiving from his headmaster an explanation of the usual rules of balance within schools, himself collected in the copies so distributed.

Although the Government did not publish the leaflet, we support some of the policies contained in it, although not all. Obviously, the Government have no power to require the withdrawal of leaflets they did not produce; nor would they wish to have such powers.