HC Deb 31 January 1984 vol 53 cc199-200W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many proposals for school closure were (a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 1979 for (i) first, (ii) junior, (iii) middle and (iv) secondary and high schools.

Mr. Dunn

The details are available only from August 1980 when sections 12–15 of the Education Act 1980 came into force. The number of proposals approved and rejected by my right hon. Friend or his predecessor, together with the numbers of schools involved, are shown in the table. This also shows the numbers of schools closed as a result of proposals determined by local authorities in accordance with section 12(7) of the Education Act 1980. Separate records are not kept for junior school proposals; these are included in the figures for primary schools.

School Closure Proposals
Year Approved by Secretary of State Determined by LEA Rejected by Secretary of State
(i) First schools
1980 none none none
1981 12(13) 10(10) 3(3)
1982 19(20) — 3(3)
1983 18(18) — 2(2)
(ii) Primary schools (excluding First schools)
1980 6(6) 1(1) —

Year Approved by Secretary of State Determined by LEA Rejected by Secretary of State
1981 108(109) 24(26) —
1982 101(108) 31(31) 9(10)
1983 130(154) 37(44) 13(15)
(iii) Middle schools
1980 none none none
1981 4(4) — 1(1)
1982 8(20) 2(2) 1(1)
1983 7(9) — 2(2)
(iv) Secondary schools
1980 none none none
1981 22(29) 6(7) 2(6)
1982 46(66) 8(8) 7(17)
1983 32(65) 5(5) 13(24)

Note: The first figure in each case is the number of proposals; and the figure in parenthesis is the number of schools.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average time for decisions on proposed school closures from the date of publication by local education authorities to final decision by the Secretary of State.

Mr. Dunn

The average period between the publication of all types of proposals made under sections 12–15 of the Education Act 1980 and my right hon. Friend's decision is currently 6.2 months, and for school closure proposals only is 6.7 months. Both figures include the two months allowed for statutory objections and the further month allowed before a local education authority must submit these objections and their comments to my right hon. Friend.