HL Deb 09 April 1986 vol 473 cc300-1WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many comprehensive schools there are in Northern Ireland, and, further to their Answer to the Lord Melchett of 24th March (col. 1270), how much it would cost in the 1986–87 school year (at current prices) if Education and Library Boards were asked to have regard to schools which are specifically providing comprehensive education when assessing applications for school transport made on the grounds that the nearest appropriate school, while less than three miles from the pupil's home, is not a comprehensive school.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)

There are by statute only two types of secondary school: grammar and secondary intermediate; however, seven secondary intermediate schools, which have the approval of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland to provide GCE 'A' level courses, have been formally approved on the basis of statutory development proposals to provide secondary education on a non-selective basis.

An Education and Library Board has discretion to pay full transport costs where the school attended is not the nearest appropriate school and where this may be justified in terms of its overall policy for the provision of education in its area. It is for each board to consider whether such discretion should be exercised for schools providing secondary education on a non-selective basis. The information requested on school transport costs is not, therefore, available.