HC Deb 16 January 1991 vol 183 cc500-1W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account is taken in determining the 1991–92 voluntary-aided capital programme of the academic results of a school; and how many voluntary-aided schools have a better academic record than Hasmonean high school, Barnet.

Mr. Fallon

Information on academic performance of individual voluntary-aided schools is not held in the Department and is not taken into account in determining the voluntary aided and special agreement capital programme.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the 1991–92 voluntary-aided capital programme is being allocated to(a) Church of England schools, (b) Roman Catholic schools and (c) Jewish schools.

Mr. Fallon

The percentage of new major voluntary aided and special agreement building projects approved to start in 1991–92 has been allocated as follows:—(a) 41 per cent. for Church of England schools, (b) 41 per cent. for Roman Catholic schools and (c) 0 per cent. for Jewish schools. The remaining 18 per cent. was allocated for new projects in non-denominational voluntary aided and special agreement schools. Percentages are not available for expenditure on minor projects—£5,000 to £120,000—since it is for local education authorities to determine how best to distribute their minor works allocations after consulting the associated bodies within their area.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Barnet council first included the rebuilding of the Hasmonean high school in its voluntary-aided capital programme submission.

Mr. Fallon

Barnet local education authority first included the rebuilding of the Hasmonean high school in its plans for 1984–85.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account is taken in determining the 1991–92 voluntary-aided capital programme of the extent to which schools are oversubscribed; and how many of the schools which received funding were more heavily oversubscribed than Hasmonean high school, Barnet.

Mr. Fallon

No account is taken of oversubscription in determining the 1991–92 voluntary-aided capital programme, except in the case of projects which result from statutory proposals to provide new school places in the absence of spare capacity in neighbouring schools. The information requested in the second part of the question is not available.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of Barnet schoolchildren are educated in voluntary-aided schools; what is the comparable percentage for other London education authorities; and what correlation there is between these percentages and the scale of new projects approved for the voluntary-aided sector 1991–92 capital programme.

Mr. Fallon

A total of 34 per cent. of Barnet school children were educated in voluntary aided schools as compared with 22 per cent. for Greater London. There is no significance in any correlation between these percentages and the scale of new projects approved for the voluntary-aided sector 1991–92 capital programme.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many of the submissions for the 1991–92 voluntary-aided capital programme the sponsors offered to provide more than 15 per cent. of the cost.

Mr. Fallon

None.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science with whom were discussions held during the passage of the Hasmonean High School Bill and what was the then estimated cost of the proposals contained in the Bill.

Mr. Fallon

Discussions were held with officials of the Department acting on instructions from Ministers. The total estimated cost of rebuilding the boys' school on the girls' school site and enlarging it to six forms of entry was £5.96 million at April 1990 prices.