§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on(a) the discretion of governors in charging outside bodies for the use of schools' premises and (b) guidelines she has issued in respect of minimum or maximum amounts to be charged. [24631]
§ Mrs. GillanGuidance on charging outside bodies for the use of school premises is contained in "Our School—Your School", published by the Department for Education and Employment and sent to all schools and local education authorities on 24 October 1995. There are no specific guidelines on minimum or maximum amounts to be charged. Subject to any directions issued by a local education authority might place on its own schools, school governors are free to negotiate charges with users, so long as they at least break even overall. Schools can apply whatever income they earn for the purposes of the school.