HC Deb 18 January 1994 vol 235 cc537-9W
Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will describe in general terms the nature and use of the premises at each educational establishment where his determination of an Education Assets Board recommendations is awaited;

(2) how many recommendations from the Education Assets Board are awaiting a decision by his Department; if he will list them; and for how long each of them has been with his Department.

Mr. Robin Squire

There are 17 cases awaiting determination by my right hon. Friend. They are:

Institution Date received
Grant-Maintained Schools
Abbotswood School, Hampshire October 1993
Arnewood School, Hampshire November 1993
Daitford Grammar School for Girls, Kent December 1992
Epsom and Ewell High School, Surrey March 1993
Great Barr School, Birmingham August 1992
Kingsley Park School, Northamptonshire September 1992
Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire November 1991
Reading School, Berkshire April 1993
Ringwood School, Hampshire November 1993
St. George's School, Lincolnshire July 1993
Thamesview School, Kent March 1993
Wilson's School, Sutton June 1993
Wymondham College, Norfolk December 1992
Higher Education Institutions
Falmouth College of Art and Design September 1991
University of Greenwich September 1991
University of West of England; Bath College of HE November 1991
Further Education Institutions
Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture December 19931
1 Appeal received.

Note: Under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Education Assets Board (EAB) may determine the transfer of property, rights and liabilities in respect of further education institutions where it appears that agreement between the parties is unlikely to be reached. Under the 1992 Act both the institution and local authority have the right of appeal to the Secretary of State against determinations made by the EAB.

Of the 17 cases being considered by my right hon. Friend, 13 involve the transfer of land and/or property. They are:

GRANT-MAINTAINED SCHOOLS

Abbotswood School, Hampshire—A dispute with Hampshire county council concerning the ownership of an area of land which acts as an access road to the school and another of the council's properties.

Arnewood School, Hampshire—A dispute concerning the ownership of a recreation centre and land used by the school and community.

Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent—A dispute between the school and Kent county council over (i) transfer of an area of playing field, (ii) pedestrian rights of access and (iii) transfer of a further area of land.

Great Barr School, Birmingham—A dispute between the school and Birmingham county council over the ownership of an adjacent sports hall and an area of playing field which is used by both the school and the local community.

Kingsley Park School, Northamptonshire—A dispute between the school and Northamptonshire county council over the transfer of a gymnasium block in a building on the school site which is also used by another of the Authority's schools.

Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire—A dispute between the school and Gloucestershire county council over the transfer of the site of a former secondary school which had been leased to Pate's grammar school whilst major building work was carried out on their own school site.

Ringwood School, Hampshire—A dispute concerning the ownership of a recreation centre and land used by the school and community.

St. George's School, Lincolnshire—The dispute with Lincolnshire county council concerns the ownership of a property the school shares with the county's adult education and library services and an area of land which is also used by a local scout group.

Thamesview School, Kent—A dispute between the school and Kent county council concerning the transfer of a house occupied by a teacher at the school.

Wilson's School, London Borough of Sutton—This dispute concerns the authority's refusal to sign documents transferring ownership of property to the school pending clarification of the authority's continued use of a swimming pool owned by the school's Trustees.

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Greenwich—A dispute between the London borough of Wandsworth, which inherited ILEA's education responsibilities in the area, and Thames polytechnic (now the university of Greenwich) over the transfer of the freehold of property known as Manresa house, and the grounds surrounding this property. Wandsworth use part of Manresa house for adult education.

Falmouth School of Art and Design—A dispute between Cornwall county council and Falmouth school of art and design over the transfer of properties in Falmouth and Camborne, used by the school.

FURTHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture—This appeal case concerns the Education Assets Board's determination that ownership of a veterinary investigation centre which was used prior to 1 April 1993 under a lease between Lincolnshire county council and the Minister of Public Buildings and Works should transfer to the college.