HC Deb 19 March 1987 vol 112 cc562-3W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to his Department of applying to maintained sector boarding schools the 85 per cent. formula for capital funding which currently applies in the voluntary aided sector, assuming expenditure remained at the level of the last financial year for which he has statistical information relating to capital allocations to, and expenditure by, local education authorities in respect of their maintained boarding provisions.

Mr. Dunn

It is not possible to make this calculation, since local education authorities ar not required to submit details of capital spending on individual projects to the Department.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he or any of the Ministers in his Department last met representatives of the Boarding Schools Association to discuss boarding provision in the maintained and independent sectors of education; and what further meetings are planned.

Mr. Dunn

I received a deputation from the Boarding Schools Association in May 1984 and have been in touch with the association by correspondence since then. I have expressed my willingness to meet the association again if it wishes.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list, since 1980, the proposals which have come before him under sections 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the closure or significant reduction of boarding provision in maintained schools; and what was his decision in each case.

Mr. Dunn

The table lists proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the clolsure or discontinuation of boarding provision in maintained schools, and shows in each case the Secretary of State's decision, or local education authority determination in accordance with section 12(7) of the Act. The list excludes special schools.

LEA and description of proposal Date of Decision
Approved by Secretary of State Determined by LEAs
Suffolk
Closure of the boarding house for girls of Thomas Mills High School 10 June 1982
Northumberland
Closure of Brown Rigg Boarding School 22 January 1985
Manchester
Discontinuation of 50 boarding places at Parrs Wood High School 15 June 1981
Cumbria
Closure of boarding accommodation at Kirkby Lonsdale Queen Elizabeth Comprehensive 3 September 1986
Kent
Closure of boarding accommodation at Highworth School for girls 16 June 1984
West Sussex
Closure of boarding and lodging facilities at Midhurst Grammar 20 October 1986
Oxfordshire
Closure of King Alfreds Boarding House Under consideration