HC Deb 10 March 1980 vol 980 cc476-7W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make generally available the report of the working party on the administrative and legislative aspects of reorganisation of secondary education; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Goodhart

The working party has submitted reports on:

  1. (a) In-service training;
  2. (b) Preparatory and boarding departments;
  3. (c) Staffing of secondary schools;
  4. (d) Redeployment of teachers:
  5. (e) Steps necessary to obtain parity of esteem of all secondary schools in the eyes of the community.

The first three were published on 27 March 1979, and the last two were submitted by the working party last month. Copies of all five are available to Members in the Library and have also been circulated widely to interested bodies for comment. The first three are available to the general public through Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the last two may be obtained direct from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

The Government are now considering carefully the recommendations in the first three reports together with the various views which have been expressed on them. The final date for the submission of comments on the other two is 30 April 1980.