§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will instigate a special grant to maintain village schools in rural development areas.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend has no proposals to introduce a special grant to maintain village schools in rural development areas. The extra cost of schooling in sparsely populated areas is already taken into account in allocating block grant to local authorities. In addition my right hon. Friend is currently providing educational support grants to 14 local education authorities for a pilot project to explore educational and cost-effective ways of enriching the curriculum provided in small rural primary schools.