HC Deb 14 January 1991 vol 183 c365W
Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the funding of the rural schools project.

Mr. Fallon

Since 1985 the Government have supported through education support grant expenditure totalling about £7.5 million on projects to improve the range and quality of the curriculum in rural schools in 14 local education authorities. In common with all education support grant programmes, support is limited to a finite period for these pilot projects. Support in 13 of the 14 local education authorities will have ceased by the end of the 1990–91 financial year. Because of a later start, support for Northumberland LEA will end in 1991–92. The programme is being evaluated by Leicester university with the aim of issuing to LEAs a report with recommendations by the end of this year.