HC Deb 04 July 1989 vol 156 cc124-5W
47. Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will detail the advantages which a genuine choice in secondary education brings.

Mr. Butcher

Greater parental choice encourages competition between schools and allows parents to influence decisions which determine the quality of education. I believe that parents have a legitimate interest which they should be trusted to express and that competition encourages good schools to do even better and poorer schools to raise their sights.