§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are(a) the shortest, (b) the longest and (c) the average periods of time taken by his Department to reach a conclusion on proposals for reorganisation submitted by local education authorities during the last three years.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend's aim is to decide all proposals submitted to him under section 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980 as quickly as possible after the elapse of the two months allowed for the receipt of objections and the further month for the LEA to comment on these. Some proposals are decided very soon thereafter; the average time taken for decisions on all proposals is currently about seven months.