HC Deb 05 February 1988 vol 126 c773W
Mr. Rost

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is willing to consider representations from right hon. Members and hon. Members in respect of proposals made under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 at any time up to the date of his formal decision on that proposal being published.

Mr. Dunn

My right hon. Friend would encourage hon. and right hon. Members to make representations to him about proposals made under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 whenever possible within three months of the date of publication of those proposals. He is, nevertheless, willing to listen to representations after that time. Once proposals have been approved or rejected under those sections, my right hon. Friend has no power to rescind that decision.

Mr. Rost

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the procedures taken by himself, his Ministers and officials within his Department in arriving at a decision for approval or rejection of a proposal under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 are treated as strictly confidential, and do not constitute any decision until he publicly announces such a decision.

Mr. Dunn

Advice from officials to Ministers is normally regarded as confidential. My right hon. Friend is advised that, where a decision in respect of particular proposals under sections 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980 is communicated to the proposers, the proposals are approved or rejected for the purposes of those sections, irrespective of whether any public announcement has been made.

Mr. Rost

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the procedure he adopts(a) to publish decisions taken under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 and (b) to inform all interested parties of such a decision.

Mr. Dunn

Approval or rejection by my right hon. Friend of proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 is conveyed to the proposers concerned. The authority is required to inform local objectors of the decision. Where an hon. or right hon. Member has expressed an interest in the proposal, it is the usual practice of my right hon. Friend to inform the hon. Member of the decision at the same time as it is conveyed to the proposers.