TO HER credit, Deputy Carol Steere has never been one to shy away from plain speaking and difficult choices.

When St Sampson’s Infants and St Andrew’s Primary were threatened with closure the Education minister made it clear that the economic case for shutting them down was cast-iron, no matter what heart strings the parents pulled.

After a long and, at times, acrimonious debate, Education took that view to the States, only for it to be rejected by deputies.

It is unclear whether the schools’ closure will return to the Assembly at some stage but, if it does, one thing is certain: the minister will hold the same unshakeable views.

Deputy Steere is equally forthright and consistent when it comes to grants for Elizabeth, Ladies’ and Blanchelande colleges.

A year ago, she said: ‘I support any parent’s right to choose where they want to have their children educated, but if you choose the independent route you should pay the going rate.

‘I don’t believe it should be subsidised by the state – the money could be better spent elsewhere.’

Nothing wrong with that. It is a perfectly valid point of view.

Except now we learn that Deputy Steere has been chosen as one half of the political control over a review into college grants.

That review, instigated by the Policy Council, is, we are told, one that begins with a clean slate – ‘There are no preconceptions about the outcome.’

The other half of the political team – Deputy Mark Dorey – is thought to hold the opposing view to Deputy Steere’s.

So, essentially, Policy Council has put two cats in a bag and left them to fight it out. Whichever emerges triumphant will win the day.

Those who hope for compromise do not know the characters involved.

Quite why Policy Council has gone down this route is unclear. Deputy Steere knows the subject as minister, but, on that basis, should not both be Education members?

Far better to have had no political input, just two or three intelligent and impartial outsiders with no preconceptions.

Or is there already a message written on that clean slate?