§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement giving the value of direct grants to list D schools in Scotland in the last financial year;
(2) what is the amount by which the rate support grant will be increased to reflect the increase in expenditure falling on local authorities as a result of grants to list D schools being terminated.
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§ Mr. YoungerIn 1984–85 direct grants of £5.36 million were paid to 18 voluntary list D schools representing half the costs of accommodating children placed by local authorities plus the full costs of accommodating children placed following court proceedings.
I have proposed to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that relevant expenditure and aggregate exchequer grant should be increased in 1986–87 by £3.9 million to reflect in full the additional costs falling on authorities in respect of children placed by them in 13 remaining voluntary schools which will no longer receive direct grants. A further sum estimated at £2 million will be payable in 1986–87 in the form of direct grants to two voluntary schools providing secure accommodation and in payment of the full costs of accommodating children placed in the schools following court proceedings. Assistance will also be made available towards certain closure costs of any voluntary schools ceasing to operate in 1986.