HL Deb 02 December 1997 vol 583 c161WA
Lord Hardy of Wath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will undertake to ensure that places in secondary schools are allocated first to those children living within the school's catchment area, and that children from outside that area will be allocated places only where the school can reasonably accommodate them.

Baroness Blackstone

Under our new arrangements for admissions, local forums will consider how the needs of all parents can best be met, including through the use and interaction of appropriate catchment areas. There will be access when necessary to an independent adjudicator. Guidance on catchment areas will be included in the new code of practice on admissions, on which we shall be consulting widely.