HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc917-8W
Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each city technology college the percentage of pupils entitled to receive free school meals.

Mr. Robin Squire

Using January 1994 data, the percentages are as follows:

Percentage
Kingshurst 30
Djanogly 32
Macmillan 27
Emmanuel 11
Dixons 13
Leigh 12
Harris 23
BRITschool 22

Number and percentage of eligible parents
Period Voting yes Voting no Not voting
1 September 1988–15 December 1994 558787 (41%) 324986 (24%) 493830 (36%)
1 September 1993–15 December 1994 70116(34%) 63564 (31%) 73499 (35%)

because of rounding, the sum of percentages shown may not be 100 per cent.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints her Department has received about the admissions policies of grant-maintained schools; to which schools they relate; and, in each case, what action has been taken.

Mr. Robin Squire

The Department receives a substantial number of inquiries, both in writing and by telephone, about school admissions. Sometimes concern is expressed about the particular admissions arrangements operated by a school or local education authority. The Department does not keep a central register of admissions inquiries, but it is comparatively rare to receive a specific complaint about the admissions policy of an individual GM school.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained secondary schools include as part of their admissions policy an interview with(a) pupils and (b) parents which forms a significant part in the allocation of places, other than church schools which do so solely to judge religious suitability and make this clear in their written policy.

Mr. Robin Squire

This information is not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible in the new year.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total value of the formula allocation of capital grant to grant-maintained schools in each year since 1990.

Mr. Robin Squire

Capital formula allocations to grant-maintained schools in the years between 1990–91 and 1993–94 are set out in the table. Formula allocation 1994–95 is now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the agency to write to the hon. Member with this information.

Percentage
Bacon's 31
Haberdashers' 28
Thomas Telford 14
Brooke Weston 12
ADT 26
Landau Forte 8
John Cabot 19