§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has available on the provision of special needs education at Gateside school, Paisley; how many pupils attend the school; what is the current catchment area of the school; what proportion of children are transported to the school because they do not reside within its vicinity; how much the school cost to run in the most recent year for which figures are available; what was the annual cost per pupil in the same financial year; how many(a) teaching, (b) specialist, (c) auxiliary, (d) administrative and (e) manual staff are employed at the school; how many posts are currently unfilled; what is the reason for each unfilled post; what are the grades and designations of the unfilled posts; where is the nearest alternative school providing similar educational services to a similar age group; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas HamiltonStrathclyde regional council education authority has responsibility for Gateside school which provides for pre-five children with hearing impairment. In September 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, the school roll was 19 and two full-time teachers were employed. All children attended on a part-time basis, the full-time equivalent being 14. The total budgeted running cost for 1993–94 was £101,000 which equates to a budget cost per pupil of £7,210. The other information requested is not held centrally.
The Government's policy is that parents in Scotland of children with special educational needs should have a choice of educational provision for their child, including special schools such as Gateside: It is, of course, for each education authority to support and arrange such provision for children in their area with special educational needs.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding is made available by his Department to Gateside school for deaf children in Paisley; how funding arrangements will change in future years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office does not fund Gateside school directly. The level of expenditure incurred in respect of the school is a matter for the education authority, Strathclyde regional council, which receives support for its expenditure on education services through aggregate external finance. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements.