§ 28. Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he gives to local education authorities which are in the process of reorganising secondary education about opting out by secondary schools.
§ Mr. ButcherMy right hon. Friend has made it clear that local education authorities remain responsible for the organisation of educational provision within their areas and should continue to take steps to rationalise provision where appropriate in accordance with the guidance in the Department's circular 3/87. If a school does not have a viable future as a local authority-maintained school its governors are unlikely to be able to convince my right hon. Friend that it would become viable as a grant-maintained school.
§ 64. Mr. John L. MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the current number of schools showing an interest in the opting-out provisions of the Education Act 1988.
Thousands Academic year beginning in 1987 provisional 1988 1989 1990 projected 1991 1992 Full-time and part-time students 530 538 551 556 556 552