§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the cost of insuring maintained schools against storm damage and malicious or criminal damage is met from public funds; if so, what was the total cost of such insurance in each of the last three financial years; and what was the cost of repairing such damage in the same years.
§ Mr. ScottYes. The costs of insurance premiums for maintained schools are met by the area boards as part of the running costs of the schools. I am informed that for 1981–82, the year for which information is readily available, the area boards paid a total of £800,000 in insurance premiums, of which some £600,000 was for insurance against fire and special perils. Records are not held centrally on the costs of repairing particular types of damage and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total cost of maintained schools in Northern Ireland is met from public funds; and what was the total sum so expended during the last financial year.
§ Mr. ScottThe Department of Education pays grant of 85 per cent. for approved expenditure on providing or altering the premises of maintained schools and salaries of teachers employed there.
Education and library boards are responsible for the running costs of maintained schools: maintenance of premises, providing and replacing equipment, employing persons other than teachers.
In 1981–82 the total public expenditure on maintained schools was as follows:
£ million Department of Education Capital Grants 3.7 Teachers Salaries 60.0 Education and Library Boards Running Costs 23.8