HL Deb 06 November 2002 vol 640 cc125-6WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will defer implementation of the decision of the former Education Minister for Northern Ireland to abandon the current 11-plus transfer arrangements until such a time as a broadly acceptable alternative transfer procedure has been decided. [HL6318]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

Too many children are disadvantaged by the transfer tests and this cannot be allowed to continue. Responses to the extensive consultation on the Burns Report showed widespread demand for change and an emerging consensus, including among the political parties, for ending the tests. The Government are therefore determined to continue to work towards the abolition of the transfer tests as soon as practical. Officials of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland will be holding meetings over the coming weeks to seek views on how best to develop new post-primary arrangements.

was agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive arid theNorth/South Ministerial Council.