Stoney Middleton School Raised in Parliament by Patrick McLoughlin MP

6.00.00pm GMT Fri 12th Jan 2007

Flooding in Stoney Middleton

Speaking in the last debate before the House of Commons rose for Christmas Patrick McLoughlin said:-

"Over the past 10 years, the Government have told us about their commitment to education-to "education, education, education" as we heard the Prime Minister say before he was elected to office. That rings fairly poorly at the moment in the area of Stony Middleton. Its school, which serves an important local community, is threatened with closure.

It used to be the case that if a school were threatened with closure, an MP would be able to take a delegation to see a Minister to make the case for the school not to close. That has changed, as the Government have removed that right. I very much regret the lack of access to the Secretary of State, as I would like to explain why we believe that the local education authority decision is wrong. It is a retrograde step made by the Government, who have removed the final right of appeal of MPs to Ministers. As I said, I very much regret that. I hope that the local community, which is trying so hard to save the local school, will be successful and manage to save it.

As Members of Parliament, we should have the right to appeal directly to the Secretary of State when schools in our constituencies are threatened with closure. I was able to do that about 15 years ago when Muggington school in another part of my constituency was being threatened with closure, but since the Government have changed the law, we are no longer able to do so."

Related Link:

Hansard Report.