Voluntary-aided Schools (Hansard, 6 November 1995)

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been(a) the level of capital expenditure and (b) the governor's share of capital expenditure in voluntary-aided schools in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [41302]

§ Mrs. Gillan
The level of capital expenditure over the past three years has been as follows:

£ thousands

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95

(a) Total Governors' expenditure eligible for grant on which grant was paid 95,681 94,104 89,139

(b) —of which Governors' Contribution 14,352 14,116 13,371

Notes:
1. Governors' contribution based on 15 per cent. of approved building work costs. Information on additional annual expenditure incurred by governors, not approved for grant assistance, on cash-limited and off-programme work, is not held centrally.
2. Governors' contribution includes expenditure supported by Central Government loans.
3. The figures do not include local authority capital expenditure at aided schools, information on which is not held centrally.
4. The figures do not include expenditure on repairs.
631W

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what time scale has been allowed for responses to her Department's consultation paper on self-government for voluntary-aided schools; and what factors underlay her Department's rejection of the time scale periods recommended in(a) the Department of Environment publication "Action for Central Government" and (b) her Department's document on efficient scrutiny into the administrative burdens on schools. [41714]

§ Mr. Robin Squire
The consultation paper was published on 27 October with a request for responses by 24 November 1995. As the paper made clear, my right hon. Friend intends to consider the possibility of legislation in the coming parliamentary Session in the light of responses. This necessitates an unusually short consultation period, for which an apology was given in the letter to consultees accompanying the paper.

§ Mr. Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to publish in full responses to her Department's consultation paper on self-government for voluntary-aided schools and if she will make a statement. [41716]

§ Mr. Squire
A summary of responses will be made available on request, and a copy will be placed in the Library. Wider access to the responses themselves will be subject to consultees' consent.

§ Mr. Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what dates copies of her Department's consultation paper on self-government for voluntary-aided schools were sent to(a) voluntary-aided schools, (b) grant-maintained former VA schools, (c) local authority associations and (d) local education authorities. [41717]

§ Mr. Squire
The consultation paper was published on 27 October 1995. Some 4,400 copies were dispatched on that day and on the following two working days.

£ thousands
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
(a) Total Governors' expenditure eligible for grant on which grant was paid	95,681	94,104	89,139
(b) —of which Governors' Contribution	14,352	14,116	13,371