HC Deb 16 February 1989 vol 147 cc313-4W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many complaints he has received in respect of the conduct of ballots for grant-maintained schools; and if he will list in respect of each(a) the sender of the complaint, (b) the authority concerned and (c) the nature of the complaint.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

A number of parents, teachers, governors and others have expressed concern to my Department about the conduct of ballots and associated procedures at schools considering seeking grant-maintained status. Such expressions of concern are frequently made in confidence, and it would not be appropriate for me to provide the details requested. The purpose of my Department's letter of 13 February to chief education officers was to draw attention to the need for ballots and the associated procedures to be conducted fairly and responsibly, and to my powers to consider and determine formal complaints.