Voluntary-Aided Schools

Mr. Godsiff
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to accept applications for voluntary-aided status from Muslim schools on the same criteria as applications from Anglican, Catholic and Jewish schools.

Mr. Forth
It has always been my right hon. Friend's policy to consider each proposal for voluntary-aided status, put forward by any persons or voluntary body of any religious persuasion, on its individual merits.