Boarding School Provision (Hansard, 18 February 1987)

§ Mr. Latham
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what factors he attributes the decline in the number of boarders in maintained schools in England between 1983 and 1986; and whether he will discuss with the local education authorities the possibility of reversing this trend.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
One reason has doubtless been the fall in the school population as a whole, though there may well be other factors in individual cases. Any significant reduction in maintained hoarding school provision requires my right hon. Friend's approval under section 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980. He decides such cases on their individual merits, including any objections received. There are no present plans to discuss boarding education generally with local education authorities.

§ Mr. Latham
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his Department does not collect centrally the information requested in two parliamentary questions on 11 February, Official Report, column 223, by the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton about hoarding school provisions; and whether he will take immediate steps to do so.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The Department has found no operational need for this information, and in any event it would have to take account of the additional cost and burden the collection of such information would impose on LEAs and schools.

§ Mr. Latham
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department about boarding school provision in the maintained sector other than that contained in the reply by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton on 11 February, Official Report, column 223.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The Department occasionally receives information from the Boarding Schools Association obtained through its clearing house. Her Majesty's inspectorate advise the Secretary of State of its findings in the light of routine visits to individual boarding schools.

Proportion (percentage) of the DES science budget

University college of Wales 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 ¹1987–88

Aberystwyth 0.25 0.25 0.19 0.20 0.15 0.17 0.20 0.22 0.22

Bangor 0.23 0.23 0.22 0.20 0.17 0.15 0.15 0.14 0.12

Cardiff 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.26 0.28 0.27 0.29 0.28 0.27

Swansea 0.27 0.27 0.30 0.26 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.30 0.31

St. David's, Lampeter 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.004 0.01 0.01 0.002 0.002 0.002

University of Wales institute of science and technology 0.14 0.12 0.14 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.17 0.17 0.17

Welsh national school of medicine 0.13 0.14 0.13 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.16 0.15

¹ Projected figures.

§ Mr. D. E. Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for the proportion of his Department's science budget allocated

Proportion (percentage) of the DES science budget
University college of Wales	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	¹1987–88
Aberystwyth	0.25	0.25	0.19	0.20	0.15	0.17	0.20	0.22	0.22
Bangor	0.23	0.23	0.22	0.20	0.17	0.15	0.15	0.14	0.12
Cardiff	0.29	0.29	0.29	0.26	0.28	0.27	0.29	0.28	0.27
Swansea	0.27	0.27	0.30	0.26	0.28	0.29	0.28	0.30	0.31
St. David's, Lampeter	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.004	0.01	0.01	0.002	0.002	0.002
University of Wales institute of science and technology	0.14	0.12	0.14	0.12	0.14	0.14	0.17	0.17	0.17
Welsh national school of medicine	0.13	0.14	0.13	0.13	0.14	0.15	0.16	0.16	0.15
¹ Projected figures.