§ 23. Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy in relation to the provision of rural primary schools.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthIt is for LEAs to decide on the pattern of provision of rural primary schools. Any proposals for closure of such schools must take account of considerations such as denominational choice, local geography, the distance to be travelled to alternative schools, and the age of the children making those journeys. My right hon. Friend is currently supporting through education support grants a number of pilot projects at primary schools in rural areas, including Cumbria, which are designed to experiment with ways of enriching the curriculum.