§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number of complaints he has received on each occasion a ballot for opt-out status has been held, indicating whether the complaints concerned the materials and/or activities of those campaigning(a) for and (b) against opting out; and what action was taken about each complaint; [34814]
(2) if he will list the occasions the Welsh Office has scrutinised the leaflets and other materials sent to parents (a) in support of and (b) against schools opting out, indicating whether this scrutiny was preceded by any complaints and whether in case (a) or (b) changes were ordered. [34815]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansIt is particularly important that parents of pupils at a school where a ballot on grant-maintained status is taking place should have access to information that is objective and not misleading. As part of the Welsh Office's normal monitoring arrangements of grant-maintained ballots, both the school at which the ballot is taking place and its local education authority are therefore requested to submit for scrutiny copies of any material that they have issued or received in connection with the ballot irrespective of whether there has been a complaint. When complaints about the material that has been circulated to parents or the activities of those campaigning are received, they are investigated by Welsh Office officials. Details of these complaints could, however, by provided only at disproportionate cost.