§ Lord Denningasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by Baroness Blatch on 23rd May (WA 19), whether the diocesan authority for Leicester suggested that "provision for a Sunday School fund should be considered only when a request for such a fund has been made by the trustees"; why the Secretary of State was "content" to accept the suggestion even though it differed from the Diocese of Guildford; and whether he considered it was consistent with his duty under Section 112(3)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988 to do so in a way "related to the locality".
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch):The diocesan authority for Leicester did not suggest that provision for a Sunday School fund should be made only where a request for such a fund has been made by the trustees. The discretionary power conferred on the Secretary of State under Section 2(4) of the Education Act 1973, as amended by Section 112(3) of the Education Reform Act 1988, to establish a Sunday School fund for the benefit of the locality served by the school that has closed, is exercised where a request for such a fund has been made by the trustees. Sunday School funds are created on this basis regardless of the diocesan authority involved.