HC Deb 02 July 1996 vol 280 cc375-6W
Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what representations she has received from educational institutions about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO; [34822]

(2) what disadvantages to educational institutions have been represented to her as resulting from Britain staying out of UNESCO. [34832]

Mr. Forth

None.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will make a statement on the transition to comprehensive status of the nine grammar schools in Norfolk between 1979 and 1982; [34769]

(2) what action was taken by Norfolk county council's education committee in response to the letter from the Department of Education after the general election in 1979 removing the compulsion on local education to reorganise their secondary schools along comprehensive lines; [34773]

(3) if she will make a statement on the merger of Paston school and North Walsham girls school to become a sixth form college; [34774]

(4) whether she will make a statement on the transition from grammar to comprehensive of (a) Diss grammar school in Norfolk, (b) Fakenham grammar school, (c) Wymondham college, (d) Oriel grammar school, (e) Great Yarmouth grammar school and (1) Gorleston grammar school, Gorleston. [34775]

Mrs. Gillan

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The changes referred to are a matter for the public record. The details of how they were implemented were the responsibility of Norfolk education authority. The decisions taken by that authority about the character of its secondary schools reflected the circumstances and policies of the time.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment whether she has consulted the education authority of Norfolk county council over the 1996 proposals for the creation of selective schools in Norfolk. [34770]

Mrs. Gillan

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" has been sent to all local education authorities with any comments invited by 4 October. The Department discussed the broad issues to be covered in the White Paper in advance with the local authority associations and a range of other organisations, but not with any individual local authority.