§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools have been closed in Wales since January 1980.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasComprehensive information in the form requested is not available centrally. A figure for the total number of schools closed could in any event be misleading; many closures occur as part of wider schemes of reorganisation or amalgamations which incorporate the establishment of new schools. During the period January 1980 to September 1983 there was a net reduction of 116 schools in the maintained sector.