§ Ms. Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grant-maintained schools(a) did and (b) did not receive a capital allocation named grant in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. ForthThe information is shown in the table for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.
Self-governing schools: named project capital allocations (a) (b) Year Number of schools with named project allocations Number of schools with named project allocations 1990–91 27 2 1991–92 34 31 1992–93 92 74 Note: The figures in column (b) relate to the number of self-governing schools eligible to bid in that year's named project capital funding round.
146W
§ Ms. Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many ballots for grant-maintained status the Electoral Reform Society has reported to him that improper conduct and procedure had taken place.
§ Mr. ForthElectoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. reports the factual results of ballots to the governing body of the school concerned and to the Department. From time to time the Department receives complaints about improper conduct or procedure in a ballot. If these require investigation, Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd. may be asked for its comments.
§ Ms. Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total capital expenditure named projects grant, for grant-maintained schools in each of the last three years; and how many grant-maintained schools there were in each of these years.
§ Mr. ForthThe information is shown in the following table. Final outturn figures for 1992–93 are not yet available as expenditure is still being incurred by schools.
Self-governing schools: Named project outturn expenditure Year Expenditure1 on named projects (£ thousands) Named of schools in sector2 1990–91 5,835 29 1991–92 7,485 65 1 Expenditure figures relate to spending by schools on named projects awarded allocations in each year listed and excludes expenditure on projects started in earlier programme years. 2 The figures relate to the number of self-governing schools eligible to bid in each year's named project capital funding round.
§ Ms. Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ballots for grant-maintained status he has ordered to be re-run; and what were the reasons for these orders.
§ Mr. ForthFour ballots have been declared void and required to be re-run to date. In each case, the grounds for the decision were errors in the ballot arrangements.
§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures he has taken to notify parents about grant-maintained schools; how much these measures have cost in each financial year; and what further expenditure is planned.
§ Mr. ForthInformation specifically for parents about grant-maintained schools is set out in "Grant Maintained Schools: Questions Parents Ask" and through the telephone helpline.
147WThe printing costs of "Questions Parents Ask" in the financial years from 1989–90 to 1991–92 totalled £40,000. It is not possible to disaggregate this information further without incurring disproportionate cost. Printing costs this year are estimated at £60,000. Distribution costs fall within the terms of the contract with the Departmental despatch centre and cannot be identified separately. Expenditure in 1993–94 has been planned on the basis of current demand.
The GM helpline for parents is a pilot scheme which will run to the end of March. Decisions about extending this service will be made at that time. The estimated cost for the six week pilot is £225,000 which covers the running of the telephone helpline and publicising the availability of the service in the national press and magazines.