§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they were aware of the statistics in the Office for National Statistics publication Social Inequalities 2000 when making the decision to confirm the closure of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol. [HL2564]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)My noble friend Lord Bach made clear in his reply to the noble Lord's earlier question of 26 April (Official Report, WA 119) that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment was fully aware, when reaching his decision on the proposal to close Merrywood School, of the level of social deprivation 133WA in the Knowle West area. Information about social deprivation was provided by the local education authority and objectors to the proposal. The Office for National Statistics publication does not provide detailed information on an area of this size.
§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 23 March (WA 38), which Ministers, other than the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards, discussed the proposed closure of Merrywood School, Bristol, with the Member of Parliament for Bristol South. [HL2581]
§ Baroness BlackstoneNo discussions have taken place between Ministers of the Department for Education and Employment and the Member of Parliament for Bristol South other than those described in my earlier reply.