Orders of the Day — Self-Governing Schools etc. (Scotland) Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 9:39 pm on 6 March 1989.

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Photo of Mr Michael Forsyth Mr Michael Forsyth , Stirling 9:39, 6 March 1989

The hon. Member for Garscadden said that there might be schools that wanted to take advantage of that, such as those facing closure and others that he described as being interested in snob value. There we have it. The wish to send one's child to a particular school, perhaps because it has a uniform, a tradition, a discipline or academic standards, is now to be denounced as snob value. I have news for the hon. Gentleman: there are many people throughout Scotland who wish to have the advantage of such schools, and I repudiate the thinking of the education authorities. The Bill provides an opportunity for such parental choice.

The hon. Member for Garscadden also talked about the position compared with that of schools in England.