§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the number of grant-maintained schools at(a) primary and (b) secondary level, set out by parliamentary constituency.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Department does not at present hold a full list of locations of grant-maintained schools by parliamentary constituency. One is to be compiled shortly and I will send a copy to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the cost of special purpose grants—transitional—to grant-maintained schools in England in each year since 1991.
§ Mr. Robin SquireTotal spending on transitional grants to self-governing—grant maintained—schools in each year since 1991–92 has been as follows:
Year £ million 11991–92 5.3 11992–93 10.4 21993–94 23.0 1 Outturn. 2 Estimated outturn.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current arrangements for funding grant-maintained schools in Essex; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robin SquireGrant-maintained schools in Essex are receiving funding in 1993–94 based on their entitlement under the local education authority's local management of schools scheme, plus additional sums to reflect their838W additional responsibilities. My right hon. Friend announced on 14 February his intention to introduce a common funding formula for funding GM schools in Essex and four other LEAs in 1994–95.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the proportion of the total number of pupils in Essex at(a) primary school and (b) secondary school who are attending grant-maintained schools.
§ Mr. Robin SquireEssex has the highest percentage of primary school pupils being educated in grant-maintained schools at 12 per cent of the total, and the third highest proportion of secondary school pupils with 64 per cent.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) secondary and (b) primary schools in Essex have become grant maintained; and how many applications to become grant maintained are outstanding.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThere are 63 secondary and 55 primary schools operating with grant-maintained status in Essex. A further four secondary and 15 primary schools are currently approved to become grant-maintained on 1 April. Three secondary and two primary schools have published proposals following a yes vote and are awaiting a decision.