§ Mr. SwireTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the shortage of school places(a) in England and (b) in east Devon. [17267]
§ Mr. TimmsMy Department does not collect detailed information on the demand for school places. The Government believe that decisions concerning the supply of school places are best taken locally—by the main partners in the provision of education who have knowledge of local needs. Local education authorities have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient school places in their area. They must publish annually a School606W Organisation Plan setting out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of places over a five year rolling period.
Where an LEA can demonstrate overall growth in the need for school places it may apply to my Department for capital funding.