§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department made of the extra number of school places needed in North Devon due to the Royal Marines moving from Plymouth to Chivenor; and if he will make a statement about discussions on this matter with Devon county council. [228]
§ Mr. SoamesThe number of service families projected to move into the Chivenor area with children likely to require local schooling was assessed in the feasibility study. Discussions with the North Devon district council and with local headmasters commenced at the earliest stages, and these are continuing. Indications are that the number of children requiring places in local authority 61W schools will be of the order of 110. It is not possible to be precise since families will exercise free choice over educational provision for their children. Given the departure of a number of RAF families with school-age children, contacts with the relevant authorities in North Devon indicate that there is unlikely to be a need for any net increase in the provision of school places.