§ 36. Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of surplus primary and secondary school places that remain in English maintained schools.
§ Mr. DunnBetween january 1981 and December 1983, it is estimated that local education authorities took out of use some 265,000 primary and 135,000 secondary94W school places; and that this left some 1,200,000 surplus primary and 500,000 surplus secondary places in use in January 1984. Authorities continue to make significant savings through the removal of surplus places and my right hon. Friend has agreed with the local authority associations that fresh targets should be set for the removal of places by 1987 and for future years.