§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the impact of the withdrawal of capital funds for the completion of Blenheim high school in Epsom and Ewell as a consequence of the Government's abolition of grant maintained status. [2533]
§ Mr. TimmsFollowing the decision to end grant maintained status, and after consultation with external partners, transitional regulations were put in place to fund capital work at grant maintained schools where obligations had been entered into or decisions taken by the Funding Agency for Schools or the Secretary of State 389W before 1 September 1999. These transitional regulations enabled the Department to meet outstanding commitments for capital funding approved before this date.
I understand that Blenheim high school has already received sufficient capital funding to meet the commitments covered by the transitional regulations. However, I have asked officials to meet with the school and Surrey local education authority to confirm the position.