HC Deb 16 March 1989 vol 149 cc289-90W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in paying grant monies under the city technology college programme for improving facilities at a school whose governors have given notice under section 14 of the Education Act 1944 to discontinue voluntary status, he will make it his policy to ensure that the governors retain the discretion to withdraw that notice.

Mr. Butcher

My right hon. Friend has made clear the factors on which he will need to satisfy himself before reaching a decision on any proposals from the governors of a voluntary school to discontinue that school in order to make the premises available for the establishment of a CTC. These include agreement in principle on a funding agreement, including grant towards capital costs, which would be recoverable in the event of the CTC failing to open for any reason.