HC Deb 03 November 1983 vol 47 cc440-1W
Mr. Maude

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many county education authorities closed schools in the last financial year as a result of falling school rolls; what were the savings to each authority; and how many closure proposals are awaiting decision by him.

Mr. Dunn

The Department collects information of school closures only in terms of proposals made and decided under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 and does not have figures of the financial savings accruing to individual local education authorities as a result of implementing approved proposals. Between 1 April 1982 and 31 March 1983, 36 of the 38 county education authorities had cease-to-maintain proposals involving 349 schools approved or determined in accordance with section 12(6) and (7). At 30 September 1983, there were 123 proposals from 33 of the 38 authorities awaiting decision.