§ Mr. Mylesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form in the Official Report the value of livestock support mechanisms in terms of the amounts of the following commodities the total subsidy pertaining to a 1,000 hill ewe flock, all eligible for the higher rate, would purchase in the years 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and the projected figures for 1982: (a) average quality hay, (b) hill cow cobs, (c) tractor diesel oils, (d) lime (delivered and spread) and (e) 15–15–21 fertiliser.
§ Mr. YoungerThe following information is as close to that requested as can readily be produced.
schools, where there is a large and continuing over-provision of approved places, I have concluded that I should not meantime withdraw my certificate of approval from St. John Bosco's school, Aberdour, or from Tynepark school, Haddington, but that I should withdraw my certificate of approval from St. Ninian's school, Gartmore. The managers of the schools are being informed, and I am asking the managers of Tynepark to discuss the future function of the school with Lothian regional council.
I should like at this time to acknowledge the high standard of care and education which St. Ninian's school has provided for children who have sent to it in the past.
I recognise that, even with the withdrawal of the certificate of approval from St. Ninian's School, there will remain a substantial excess in the number of places in the list D schools for boys as against present demand, particularly in the schools in Grampian and Tayside. I have accordingly decided that the number of approved places at certain schools should be reduced. The managers of the schools concerned are being informed. As regards in particular Balgay and Balgowan schools in Dundee, I am grateful for the efforts already made by the managers to work towards a merger of the two schools, and my Department will give every possible assistance to the Managers in carrying their plans forward: my aim is to secure a reduction in the combined provision of the two schools from 125 places to about 50.
The overall effect of these changes will be to reduce the number of approved places in the list D schools from a total of 1,548 at present to about 1,220.
I shall continue to keep under review the scale of provision in the list D schools in the light of demands being made upon the services.
79W
§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places in list D schools were approved by him; how many pupils were on the rolls of the schools at the latest convenient date; and if he will indicate the highest and lowest occupancy of the schools during 1981, with comparable figures for 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. YoungerThe position on 1 November 1981 was as follows:
Approved Accomodation Number on Roll Boys' Schools Non-demoninational Grampian and Tayside regions 306 160 Lothian region 155 103 Strathclyde and Central regions* 424 363 Total 885 626 Roman Catholic 480 341 Total Boys' Schools 1,365 967 Girls' Schools Total 183 143 Total all Schools 1,548 1,110 * Includes Ogilvie Wing at Kenmure St Mary's The highest number of children on the roll this year was on 24 May, when the number stood at 1,220. The lowest was at 6 September, when the roll was 1,103. The figures for earlier years were as follows:
Highest No. on Roll Lowest No. on Roll 1977 1,510(27-3-77) 1,311 (2-1-77) 1978 1,455 (19-3-78) 1,282 (24-9-78) 1979 1,394(20-5-79) 1,256(4-11-79) 1980 1,329(25-5-80) 1,204 (24-8-80)