HC Deb 01 November 1983 vol 47 cc312-3W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when his Department was informed of the sale of the land of the former St. James secondary school by the then Liverpool city council;

(2) what action his Department took after being advised of the sale of the land of the former Liverpool St. James secondary school by the then Liverpool city council.

Mr. Dunn

A letter received by the Department on 6 June claimed that the cathedral school site had been sold. This claim was put to the authority which confirmed the sale on 30 June. The Department took up the matter in letters dated 19 and 21 July, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the sale of the land of the former Liverpool St. James secondary school.

Mr. Dunn

The suggestion that the authority might be considering the disposal of the premises of the former St James secondary modern school in advance of my right hon. Friend's decision on the statutory proposals published on 17 September 1982, was put to my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Dr. Boyson) by a member of a deputation opposed to those proposals which he received at the Department on 24 March 1983. My hon. Friend asked that he be sent details to enable the Department to consider the matter: a letter was received on 6 June. My right hon. Friend received a letter dated 21 April from the Liverpool Association of Parents Concerned with Education which, among other things, drew attention to the granting of planning permission for the development of the site as part of a housing scheme. Further representations were made when my right hon. Friend and I met the leader of the city council and some of his colleagues on 2 August and when the hon. Member brought a deputation of parents from Harrington school to see me on 3 August.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will order a public inquiry into the sale of the land of the former St. James secondary school, Liverpool.

Mr. Dunn

No; an inquiry caused to be held under section 93 of the Education Act 1944 would not assist my right hon. Friend in the exercise of his statutory functions.