§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the effect of the High Court ruling of 1981 on music tuition in schools in Surrey and elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what action he is taking to review this question; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnAs a result of the High Court ruling in 1981 concerning the arrangements for charging for voluntary instrumental music tuition in Hereford and Worcester, to which my hon. Friend refers, several local education authorities have made changes to their own arrangements for music tuition. In some instances the availability of instrumental music tuition has been reduced as a result, and the Government much regret this. A number of hon. Members, members of the public and representatives of the local education authorities concerned have written to my right hon. Friend on this matter. We have made it clear that we hope that authorities and schools will make use of the ways open to them within the law of sustaining instrumental music tuition in our schools; we have also made it clear that the Government have no plans to amend the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1944.