HC Deb 02 March 1993 vol 220 cc185-6

' .—(1) The Secretary of State may—

  1. (a) in the case of any aided school or special agreement school, or
  2. (b) where proposals have been approved under section 13 of the Education Act 1980 (establishment etc. of voluntary schools) for a school or proposed school to be maintained as a voluntary school and the Secretary of State has made an order under section 15 of the Education Act 1944 (classification of schools) directing that the school be an aided school,
make grants to the governing body in respect of expenditure falling within subsection (2) below incurred by them.

(2) The expenditure referred to in subsection (1) above is expenditure in respect of the provision, alteration or repair of premises or equipment for the school or proposed school.

(3) The amount of any grant paid under this section to the governing body in respect of any such expenditure—

  1. (a) shall not exceed 85 per cent. of the expenditure, and
  2. (b) in the case of any prescribed class or description of such expenditure, shall be such as may be determined in accordance with regulations.

(4) The times at which, and the manner in which, payments are made in respect of grant under this section shall be such as may be determined from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(5) A governing body to whom any payment is made in respect of grant under this section shall comply with such requirements determined by the Secretary of State as he may from time to time impose.

(6) Such requirements—

  1. (a) may be imposed on or at any time after the making of any payment by reference to which they are imposed, and
  2. (b) may at any time be waived, removed or varied by the Secretary of State.

(7) Such requirements may, in particular, if any conditions specified in the requirements are satisfied, require the payment to the Secretary of State of the whole or any part of the following amount.

(8) That amount is—

  1. (a) the amount of the payments made in respect of the grant under this section, or
  2. (b) so much of the value of any premises or equipment in respect of which grant was paid under this section as is determined in accordance with the requirements to be properly attributable to the payment of such grant,
whichever is the greater.

(9) No grant may be paid under this section—

  1. (a) in respect of any expenses incurred in the provision of any premises which it is the duty of the local education authority to provide, or
  2. (b) in the case of a special agreement school, in respect of expenses incurred in the execution of proposals to which the special agreement relates or of repairs or alterations for the execution of which provision is made by the agreement.

(10) In relation to a proposed school, the references in this section to the governing body, in relation to any time before such a body is constituted, are to the persons who propose to establish the school; and where requirements are imposed in relation to grant paid under this section to such persons, the governing body, when it is constituted, as well as those persons shall comply with the requirements.'—[Mr. Patten.]

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.

6.15 pm
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Geoffrey Lofthouse)

I have an announcement to make. Madam Speaker earlier today undertook to look again at amendments 98 and 99 to clause 156. In view of the explanation of the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) of the intention about amendment No. 97, Madam Speaker is now prepared to allow amendments Nos. 98 and 99 to be debated in the same group. This debate will be reached after the guillotine at 10 pm in the group that is led by amendment No. 4:2 to clause 148.

Mr. Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens, South)

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, concerning new clause 19 and amendment No. 56. These are a new clause and an amendment, in the alternative, which would allow those children whose parents have a special view about the effect of sex education the right to opt out of the lessons at school, and for those matters to be taught within the family. This affects not only the Plymouth Brethren but also a number of other children in respect of whom—I will leave that. I ask that Madam Speaker reconsider the selection of this new clause and/or the amendment because this affects many children throughout the country.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

I assure the hon. Member that Madam Speaker has very seriously considered her selection and no doubt she will have taken those points into consideration when she made her decision. The Speaker has decided the selection and I can say no more.

Mr. Bermingham

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Does that mean that if matters and issues are not considered, and they are of great importance, once a selection is made it can never be altered? We had representations a little while ago which led to an alteration in the selection. I merely ask that the Speaker reconsider the position.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

As the hon. Member well knows, representations can be made at the proper time. I am sure he will do that.

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