§ Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many objections from local government electors he has had transmitted to him by the Avon county education authority to the proposed merger by the authority of Cotham and Fairfield grammar schools, Bristol, into a single comprehensive school; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the only objections to be taken into consideration are those from electors living within the relevant area as required by the Education Act 1980.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe Authority has submitted, with its comments, 265 objections which conform with section 12(3) of the Education Act 1980; in that section "area" is understood to refer to the local education authority's area as a whole. In addition I have received some 100 letters opposing the proposals. Circular 2/80 states that it has been the practice of successive Secretaries of State to have regard to all objections received, whether statutory or not.