HL Deb 21 February 1989 vol 504 cc501-2

Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many plans for the reorganisation of schools by local education authorities are awaiting decision at the Department of Education and Science.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is currently considering 160 proposals made by local education authorities under Sections 12 and 13 of the 1980 Education Act. Of these, 36 are still within the two-month period allowed for the submission of statutory objections.

Baroness David

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Can he tell us when decisions will be made on those plans that have been outstanding for a considerable time? Is it still the Government's intention to encourage local authorities to get rid of 130,000 surplus places in secondary schools? How does the noble Viscount reconcile that intention with postponing decisions of reorganisation and the legislation on opting out?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, all proposals involving schools that are eligible for grant-maintained status were formally suspended for four months last autumn to allow time for the schools to decide whether to apply for such status. Many of those proposals have since been decided. Some cannot yet be decided because they involve schools which have either recently applied for grant-maintained status or are conducting parental ballots on this question. The remainder will be decided as soon as possible.

Lord Ritchie of Dundee

My Lords, can the Minister tell me how many of the schools that have applied for grant-maintained status are threatened by closure by local authorities?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I cannot give the noble Lord that figure. However, where the two proposals for closure by local authorities and for grant-maintained status have been made simultaneously, my right honourable friend will consider both proposals simultaneously on their merits.

Baroness Lockwood

My Lords, will the Minister tell us what criteria the Secretary of State applies when determining his views on reorganisation? Secondly, will he inform us whether the Secretary of State hears in mind the effect on reorganisation when a school opts out, in particular with reference to small sixth forms and sixth-form colleges which have falling rolls?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I cannot go very far on that question. My right honourable friend has a quasi-judicial role to perform. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the steps that he takes in making his decisions.

Lord Dormand of Easington

My Lords, how much money are the Government spending on encouraging schools to opt out? Is it not an improper use of public money? The decision is primarily and—if I understand the Act correctly--entirely a matter for the governing bodies.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I read in the paper this morning that certain Labour councils are providing ratepayers' money to try to persuade schools not to opt out.

Baroness Lockwood

My Lords, will the Minister reply to the second part of my question? It was this. Does the Secretary of State take into account the effect of opting out on both sixth forms and sixth-form colleges where there are falling rolls?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, yes. My right honourable friend has repeatedly made clear that grant-maintained status will not be made a refuge for failing schools. It will not be made a refuge for schools without a viable future.

Baroness David

My Lords, of the 37 schools that have completed the process of balloting, are over three-quarters the subject of reorganisation plans? Is it not reorganisation that has stimulated schools to opt out of local authorities?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, my right honourable friend is taking all these matters into account when making his decision.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, can the Minister tell us how many of these schools are maintained schools and how many are aided schools?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I cannot do so without notice.

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