asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will issue a circular advising local authorities that the wearing of school uniform should not be compulsory in schools where there are children whose parents cannot afford to provide such clothing and cannot now obtain school uniform grants from education depart ments or exceptional needs payments from the Department of Health and Social Security in order to provide such uniforms.

No. The day-to-day running of a school is the responsibility of the head teacher in consultation with the local education authority.