§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the standing advisory committee on list D schools.
§ Mr. YoungerThe term of office of the present members of the committee ends on 31 March 1982. I am grateful to the members of the committee for their work over the last two years, but I have thought it right to review the committee's position in the light of all the considerations which now bear upon their work. In undertaking this review I have had to take account of the changes which have taken place in the situation of the list D schools since the committee was set up and, in particular, of the steep fall in demand for places which has taken place over that period and which was dealt with in the answers which I gave to my hon. Friend on 1 December 1981.
I am sure that the list D schools will continue to have a valuable part to play in providing child care services; but in a situation such as that outlined in my answers of 1 December—[Vol. 14, c. 77–79]—I think it timely to reconsider the means by which further advice about matters affecting the future of the schools may most appropriately be obtained. I have concluded, as far as the schools themselves are concerned, that this would best be done through the long established joint consultative committee for the list D schools, which now has a wider membership than before. As to issues involving other organisations which have an interest in the resources provided by the list D schools, I have concluded that the best course is to consult such organisations direct and to 486W bring them together for discussion as particular situations may demand. I have therefore decided not to renew the appointments of the existing members of the Standing Advisory Committee on the list D schools or to make new appointments.