Grant-maintained Schools (Hansard, 17 February 1989)

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what amounts of grant Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd. has sought to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by it(a) for the purposes of or in connection with, the provision or proposed provision, of educational services in grant-maintained schools or proposed grant-maintained schools and (b) for any other purposes; and if he will specify those purposes;
(2) how much loan or grant to Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd. he has approved, or expects to approve.

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker
When the Education (Grants) (Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd.) Regulations 1989 come into force grant may be paid to Grant-Maintained Schools 413W Ltd. for the purpose of or in connection with, the provision or proposed provision, of educational services in grant-maintained schools or proposed grant-maintained schools. Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd. has submitted an application for a grant of £25,000 in the current financial year and £150,000 in the next financial year. Grant support is sought to enable it to provide advice on financial, managerial and educational matters, and related training, to schools which have been approved for grant-maintained status. No decision has been made about this application and it will be considered on its merits.

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the maximum amount of grant, for any purpose, which could be made payable to Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd.

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker
My Department pays grant to many organisations. We do not set a maximum amount of grant. Similarly, when they come into force my powers to pay grant under the Education (Grants) (Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd.) Regulations 1989 will not lay down any maximum. All applications for grant are considered on their merits.

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial provision or plans have been made, and in respect of what years, to enable grant to be payable to Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd.

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker
No specific provision has been made, since no decision to pay grant has yet been taken. If the application for the grant of the Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd. is agreed, funds will be found from within provision made for grants to persons other than local educational authorities for or in connection with education services.

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the nature of the educational services in respect of which Grant-Maintained Schools Ltd. may be paid a grant under the Education Reform Act 1988.

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker
I have powers under section 100(1 )(b) of the Education Act 1944 as amended by section 213(3) of the Education Reform Act to make provision by regulations to pay grant to persons other than local education authorities in respect of expenditure incurred or to be incurred by them for the purposes of, or in connection with, the provision—or proposed provision—of educational services.