§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff are employed at the grant-maintained schools centre; and what plans he has to extend the size or role of the centre.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThere are currently 29 staff employed by the grant-maintained schools centre. The centre is a company limited by guarantee, which receives grant from the Department for certain specified purposes. The overall size of the centre is a matter for its directors. My right hon. Friend announced on 16 March at column143 that additional grant would be made available to the centre to support the dissemination of factual information about grant-maintained status. For this purpose, regional advice centres are planned for Bolton, Kirklees, Birmingham and London, which will be grant-aided by the Department.