§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the progress made by local education authorities in closing redundant school buildings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnLocal education authorities are expected to exceed existing targets for the removal of surplus places up to 1987; but much remains to be done, particularly in secondary schools where, against a stock of 4.1 million places, pupil numbers are projected to fall from 3.5 million in 1985 to 2.8 million in 1991. My right hon. Friend plans to promulgate new targets for the period to 1991 shortly.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake a new survey of the state of repair and decoration of schools in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 10 February at column 320, regarding the sample survey of school building improvement needs currently being carried out by my Department. This seeks information on work, which may include repair and decoration, considered necessary to bring the school buildings in the sample which will be retained in 1991–92 to the defined standard of physical condition. The survey covers England only; schools in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.