§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the table on surplus school places given in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report, 16 February 1989, column 319, with the latest available information for 1988–89, and any estimate for 1989–90.
§ Mr. MacGregor[holding answer 23 January 1990]I presume that the hon. Member should have referred to column315, rather than column 319. The information for 1988–89 is given in the table. Figures from local education authorities of the number of surplus places which they removed in 1989–90 are not yet available.
Year The number of surplus school places removed 000s The Public Expenditure White Paper target 000s Per cent. (a) (b) a/b 1988–89 118 137 86 The figure in column (a) is a grossed up total based on returns from 86 local education authorities.