HC Deb 14 March 1994 vol 239 c528W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will approve a proposed development, which he has rejected, for a local authority or voluntary-aided school upon educational grounds should the school become grant maintained.

Mr. Robin Squire

My right hon. Friend considers all statutory proposals relating to a significant change of character in grant-maintained and local education authority schools on their merits, and takes full account of all the circumstances.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the expenditure upon capital works which will be undertaken by grant-maintained schools in the current year and in 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

Capital grant of £85.7 million was set aside for 1993–94 and £114.9 million is available for 1994–95 to grant maintained schools for expenditure on capital work, reflecting their increased numbers.

Grant-maintained schools are also free to use annual maintenance grant and other funds available to them for capital expenditure.