MEMBERS of a Labour-run North-East council have called on the Government to review its potentially harmful five-year education strategy.

Durham County Council's controlling Labour Group decided at an emergency meeting at the weekend to call on the Government to allow a full debate at the next party conference, before any final decisions are made.

They have asked the region's MPs to use their influence to bring about a re-think, following grave concerns that the education strategy could serious implications for children in rural areas, such as County Durham.

They fear the proposals have an urban bias, which may be detrimental to education in the region.

Cabinet member for education Councillor Neil Foster said: "There are concerns this was announced without consultation either within the party or with individual local education authorities (LEAs) or through the local government association.

"We haven't had a chance to influence the policy, because it was announced before the national policy forum met in the spring."

One of the initiatives was for parents to have the right to select schools, which would pose transport problems in rural areas such as County Durham, he said.

There were also concerns the strategy could lead to more competition between schools, which went against local initiatives to have schools working together.

Coun Foster said: "One of the decisions that document contains is that schools effectively become outside the influence of the LEA, which means taking public assets away from the public.

"These decisions are designed to suit the needs of London, where most households have choice within a three-mile distance of half a dozen schools."