HC Deb 05 December 1989 vol 163 cc135-6W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many visits his officials have made to Bradford during the past year, to date, to discuss magnet schools; and if he will list the names and designation of officials and the dates on which visits were made and the names of Bradford council elected members and officials they met.

Mrs. Rumbold

None.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names of Ministers, Bradford council members, Bradford council officers and officials of his Department who met on 28 September to discuss Bradford's proposal for development support funding for magnet schools; where the meeting took place; what documents were passed to Ministers by Bradford council members; and if he will place copies of all such documents in the Library.

Mrs. Rumbold

I met Councillor Eric Pickles and Councillor Mike Gaunt at the Department's headquarters in London. It is not accepted practice to name officials of the Department, three of whom were also present. A copy of the document "Magnet Schools: Promoting Quality and Diversity in Bradford" was passed to me, and has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the proposal for development support funding for magnet schools in Bradford outlined in documents passed to his Minister of State by members of Bradford council on 28 September; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

At my meeting on 28 September, I noted with interest the plans being developed by Bradford council for a magnet schools initiative. The council subsequently submitted bids for specific grant and capital funding to support the initiative. The Government's response to these bids is set out in the reply that I have given today to a separate question from the hon. Member on the same subject.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what supplementary bid for local authority training grants scheme support in connection with magnet schools he has received for Bradford council; what is the total amount of this bid; when he expects to reach his decision on this bid; what other bids under other programes, linked to magnet schools, he has received from Bradford council; what is the total amount of all such bids; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

A supplementary bid amounting to £204,000 in 1990–91 has been received from Bradford for funds to enable the local education authority to carry out further training of its staff in preparation for the introduction of a magnet schools programme. The maxima of expenditure by local education authorities that will be supported by grant under the LEA training grants scheme in 1990–91 will be announced shortly. Bradford has already been informed that there was no prospect of the supplementary funds it was seeking being made available as this could only be done at the expense of another authority.

Bids under the education support grant programme for 1990–91 totalling about £1.25 million have also been received from Bradford in respect of the magnet schools programme. These are currently being considered: my right hon. Friend expects to announce ESG allocations for 1990–91 around the end of this year. In addition, Bradford's capital expenditure plans for 1990–91 include £1.5 million for school improvements related to a magnet schools programme. The annual capital guidelines for 1990–91 will be announced shortly.