§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to encourage local education authorities to reduce surplus school places; and what financial mechanics are in force to support this.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerCircular 3/87, issued in May 1987, emphasised the high cost of underused capacity at schools 997W with a substantial proportion of surplus places, urged LEAs to consider rationalising provision by closing and amalgamating schools where appropriate, and set new national targets, since revised, for the removal of surplus places.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he makes of the number of surplus school places; and what savings would be achieved if these were removed.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerIt is estimated that in January 1988 there were approximately 620,000 surplus primary school places and 800,000 surplus secondary school places in England. Savings in premises-related costs of approximately £240 million a year would be achieved if these places were removed.