§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on338W Sheffield City Council's decisions on secondary school admissions for September 1998; and if he will make a statement. [35532]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe have received several letters recently from local parents and others about secondary school admission arrangements in Sheffield, and in particular about the implications of the recent High Court judgment on the operation of admissions in Rotherham. The Department is discussing the issues raised by the judgment with Sheffield LEA and with other interested parties. We shall consider in the light of those discussions if the existing legislation gives admission authorities sufficient flexibility to respond to local needs and preferences.