HC Deb 15 October 1996 vol 282 cc882-3W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the pamphlet "Self-Government for Schools: A Summary" was accompanied with a letter noting that the White Paper is a consultation paper; and in what form responses to the consultation were invited. [40586]

Mr. Forth

A summary of the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" was sent to the head teachers and chairmen of governors of all local education authority-maintained and grant-maintained schools. It was accompanied by a letter from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The letter invited comments on the White Paper by 4 October, gave details of where they should be sent, and noted that each school was eligible for one free copy of the White Paper on request.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses her Department has received to the consultation on the 'White Paper "Self-Government for Schools", listed by type of organisation consulted; which consultees responded favourably; which consultees offered criticisms; and what was the nature of these criticisms. [40588]

Mr. Forth

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received some 600 responses to the White Paper by the deadline of 4 October. We are currently analysing the responses. A summary will be placed in the Library in due course.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many copies of "Self-Government for Schools: A Summary" were sent out; to which bodies; and at what total cost. [40585]

Mr. Forth

The summary of the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" was sent to the head teachers and chairmen of governors of all local education authorities-maintained and grant-maintained schools. It has also been made available to interested parties on request. Over 70,000 copies have so far been issued. The cost of producing and distributing the summaries sent to schools was some £18,000.