HC Deb 21 January 1994 vol 235 cc857-8W
Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was(a) the lowest bid and (b) the highest bid from companies invited to tender for the running of parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status;

(2) whether he will list by registered name those companies invited to tender to conduct parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status;

(3) for what period Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. has been contracted to run parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status;

(4) by what tendering process was Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. appointed to conduct parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status;

(5) when he next intends to invite tenders for the running of parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status;

(6) what is the scale of charges made to his Department by Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. for running parental ballots over proposals for schools to move to grant-maintained status.

Mr. Robin Squire

The Education Reform Act 1988 gave parents the right to vote on whether their children's school should become grant maintained. The Electoral Reform Society's company, Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd., is the body currently prescribed in regulations to make the necessary arrangements for ballots of parents on the question of whether schools should apply for grant-maintained status. The Electoral Reform Society has had this function since 1988.

Following implementation of the parts of the Education Act 1993 which streamline the arrangements for schools to acquire grant-maintained status, the Department is reviewing details of the balloting arrangements and considering seeking tenders for future contracts for balloting services.

Charging arrangements between the Department and Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. are commercial in confidence.

Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the information held by his Department on the typical cost to schools of holding parental ballots on proposals to move to grant-maintained status.

Mr. Robin Squire

A small survey undertaken by the Department last year indicated that the governing body of an average-sized primary school typically spends approximately £900 and the governors of an average secondary school approximately £1,500 in the process of applying for grant-maintained status. Most of this is spent on providing information for parents, including in meeting the statutory requirement to place a summary statement about proposals to become GM in a local newspaper.

From 1 January 1994, governing bodies of schools in the process of balloting for GM status or preparing statutory proposals may apply to the Department for a grant to help cover the expenses incurred.