asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of the centre for information and advice on educational disadvantage.

The centre is one of those quasi-autonomous bodies which the Government have undertaken to review, and I have today written to the acting chairman, governors and director of the centre to inform them of my decision to dissolve it. In my view the centre has not wholly fulfilled the expectations raised at its foundation, and continued grant-aid would not provide value for money in meeting the needs of the educationally disadvantaged. I should, however, stress the continued importance which I attach to work to combat educational disadvantage, and my Department will continue to be closely involved through the work of Her Majesty's inspectorate and the educational disadvantage unit.