§ Sir David KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many surplus school places there were, and what was their cost, in each local education authority in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [1026]
§ Mr. Robin SquireFor the number of surplus school places in each local education authority, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on Tuesday 19 March 1996,Official Report, columns 113–18. At a national level, the average premises-related cost of maintaining a surplus place is estimated to be £182 a year for a primary school and £303 a year for a secondary school at 1995–96 prices. The actual cost and the scope for realising savings from the removal of surplus places in practice in each local education authority will depend on local circumstances.