§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest assessment of the number of surplus places in each of(a) the London boroughs and (b) the Greater Manchester boroughs.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Department has not collected comprehensive information on surplus school places since the survey in 1991 from which were derived the figures given in reply to a similar question from the hon. Member on Wednesday 28 April 1993.
We intend to make regulations later this year under section 21 of the Education Act 1993 requiring all LEAs and, where it has relevant responsibilities, the new Funding Agency for Schools, to submit information to the Secretary of State annually, beginning in 1994, on surplus places in LEA maintained and grant-maintained schools respectively.