§ 49. Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will encourage local education authorities to conduct referendums on the organisation of secondary education.
§ Sir Keith JosephNo. I have already made clear in circular 2/80 the importance I attach to local education authorities consulting local people when the planning of changes in school organisation is at a formative stage. Moreover, where local education authorities wish to change the organisation of primary and secondary education, they are required to publish proposals under sections 12 to 16 of the Education Act 1980; the procedures laid down under those sections also provide opportunities for local people to make their views known.