HC Deb 23 November 1992 vol 214 cc447-8W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the criteria used to determine the spending levels on education for grant-maintained(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; what was the total spending in each category for each of the last two years; and if he will divide these figures by region.

Mr. Forth

Grant-maintained schools receive the bulk of recurrent funding in annual maintenance grant-AMG. This is based on the levels of funding that schools could have expected to have received if still maintained by the relevant local education authority, including elements for spending on central services and school meals. The level of AMG for each school reflects spending decisions by individual local education authorities, from whom the grants are recouped.

Grant-maintained schools are eligible to receive transitional, special purpose and capital grants direct from the Department. The level of these grants is fixed each year, taking account of the level of funding schools need to meet their particular responsibilities as self-governing schools. Most of this funding is allocated on a simple formula basis with no differentiation between primary and secondary schools. Allocations for major capital projects are based on an assessment of school bids against a set of priorities notified to schools in advance.

Total spending on grant-maintained primary schools was nil in 1990–91 and £3 million in 1991–92. Total spending on grant-maintained secondary schools was £68 million in 1990–91 and £179 million in 1991–92. The table shows how these totals break down by region:

£ million
1990–91 1991–92
Secondary Primary Secondary
North 0.0 0.0 1.4
North West 11.7 0.4 14.0
Yorkshire and Humberside 2.3 0.1 7.3
West Midlands 7.5 0.0 18.8
East Midlands 9.2 1.2 21.1
East Anglia 0.5 0.8 2.3
South East 29.2 0.6 97.1
South West 8.1 0.0 16.6

Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many letters of complaint he has received from parents in Nottinghamshire about the county council's approach to opt-out ballots.

Mr. Forth

Nottinghamshire county council has made plain its opposition to parents seeking grant-maintained status for their children's schools, including through letters to parents which may be misleading. The Department has not so far received letters of complaint from parents about the council's approach to ballots, though informal complaints are made through a number of channels including in correspondence with hon. Members.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his reply of 12 November,Official Report, column 893, what was the number of formal complaints made to his Department from parents alleging misconduct by a headteacher or a governing body during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

Mr. Forth

The information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what level of grant was given in 1991–92 to the Grant Maintained Schools Trust.

Mr. Forth

No grant has been given to the Grant Maintained Schools Trust. Grant of £600,000 was paid to the Grant Maintained Schools Centre in 1991–92.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his reply of 12 November,Official Report, column 893, how many formal complaints have been made to his Department from parents alleging misconduct by a local education authority during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

Mr. Forth

The information is not available in the form requested.