HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 cc569-70W
Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to bring forward proposals to empower the Audit Commission to audit or appoint auditors for the accounts of grant-maintained schools;

(2) how many grant-maintained schools have sought the advice of the Audit Commission under section 220 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

Mr. Forth

The Audit Commission is empowered to audit grant maintained schools, but it is for the governing body of each school to appoint their auditors. My Department does not have any information on the number of schools that have sought advice from the Audit Commission.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what projections have been made for the number of grant-maintained schools for each year for the next five years.

Mr. Forth

I expect the numbers of grant-maintained schools to continue to increase markedly over the next few years and to see grant-maintained status become the natural organisational model for schools.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will carry out an investigation into the effect of the grant-maintained status of schools on parental choice in Hillingdon, Ealing and Bromley education authorities.

Mr. Forth

The option of grant-maintained status for schools enhances choice for parents. We are aware that the allocation of secondary school places for September has taken slightly longer than usual this year in Bromley and Hillingdon. The Department has discussed the position with the two local education authorities and is encouraging co-operation between the LEAs and grant-maintained schools on a voluntary basis in order to minimise delays in allocations without restricting choice. The Department is not aware of any difficulties over parental choice in Ealing.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether schools applying for grant-maintained status have to supply him with details of their admissions policy.

Mr. Forth

All proposals for grant-maintained status must set out the proposed admission arrangements for the school. The arrangements have to be approved by my right hon. Friend as part of the approval of grant-maintained status.