§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many section 11 applications are currently awaiting decision; how this compares with the number of applications awaiting decision in October 1986; what is the average time taken in reaching a decision on a section 11 application; and if Ministers consider personally all section 11 applications.
§ Mr. John PattenThere are currently under consideration 135 applications for section 11 grant in respect of 980 posts. At the end of October 1986 there were seven applications covering 14 posts outstanding. However, these figures are not directly comparable because there had been a moratorium on the acceptance of new applications between late March and the end of September 1986 while new arrangements for the administration of grant, which came into effect on 1 October 1986, were being prepared.
Since 1 October 1986 the average time taken to complete consideration of an application for grant has been just under three months. In general the aim is to complete consideration within this period but this depends on the number of posts applied for; what further information may be required from the local authority and whether advice needs to be sought from other Government Departments where they have an interest. All recommendations for approval of new posts are considered by Ministers.