§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education which local education authorities have submitted plans for the discontinuance of a special school under section 14 of the Education Act 1981 and section 183 of the Education Act 1993 and have not received final replies; which of these have been waiting(a) three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months and (d) more than 12 months; and if he will name the schools affected in each case.
§ Mr. ForthThe information requested is provided in the table. There are proposals from four LEAs which have been outstanding for more than 12 months. In all these cases further information has had to be sought from the LEAs concerned. My right hon. Friend has decided, in the light of the new consolidated statutory regime under section 183 of the Education Act 1993, to set a general target of seven months for the determination of special school proposals, and has asked officials to consult LEAs about ways of improving the information contained in LEA proposals to help expedite decisions.
302W
LEA proposals for the closures of special schools which have not had determinant or "minded to" decisions, as at 19 July 1994 Waiting time in months LEA and school <3 3–6 6–12 >12 Derbyshire Ashe Hall * Kent Beech House * Northamptonshire Eastfield * Fairlawn * Brookfield * Nottinghamshire Appletongate * Linden * St Ann's Hospital * Kinder Hospital * University Hospital * City Hospital * Hopwell * Bassetlaw * Ewing * Oxford Tesdale *
Waiting time in months LEA and school <3 3–6 6–12 >12 Bennet House * East Sussex Robert Mitchell * Walsall Beacon * Lambeth Aspen House * Hyde Farm * Lansdowne * Barking and Dagenham Bentry * Castle * Faircross * Hampshire Furzebrook * Knowsley Cartbridge * Lancashire Longridge * Liverpool Harold Magnay * Sandfield Park * Finchlea * Longmoor * Millstead * Palmerston * Princes * Okfield * North Yorkshire Field Hospital * Gateshead Joicy Road * Bradford Ashfield *