§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the extent of his powers to modify secondary school reorganisation proposals put to him by local education authorities.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. Friend is empowered by section 12(6) of the Education Act 1980, after consultation with the local education authority, to approve proposals with such modifications as he thinks desirable. He is not, however, empowered to modify proposals to such an extent as to change them in substance or alter them in such a way as to deprive potential objectors of the opportunity of full and informed consideration of the proposals as a whole.