§ Lord Denningasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the first Answer of Baroness Blatch on 26th June (WA 44), whether the provision in Section 2 of the Education Act 1973, as amended by Section 112(3)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988, does not require that some portion of the proceeds of sale should be disposed of for the benefit of the locality served by the closed school; and whether the Secretary of State in exercising his discretion should not wait for a request from trustees (who may be ignorant of their rights) but should himself see that all dioceses are treated alike.
§ Baroness BlatchSection 2(4) of the Education Act 1973, as amended by Section 112(3)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988, does not require that part of the proceeds of sale be used for the benefit of the locality served by the closed school; such use may be authorised by the Secretary of State at his discretion.
The primary function of orders made under Section 2 of the Education Act 1973 is to enable the assets representing discontinued denominational voluntary schools to be applied for the benefit of new and continuing voluntary schools of the same denomination. The Secretary of State is content therefore that provision for a Sunday school fund, for a Sunday school and for other appropriate educational purposes related to the locality served by the closed school, should be considered where a request has been made by the trustees, regardless of the diocese involved.