HC Deb 14 February 1995 vol 254 cc593-4W
Sir Irvine Patnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the latest figure for surplus places for each local education authority of the metropolitan cities; and what representations she has received from Sheffield local education authority on its proposed reduction.

Mr. Robin Squire

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on Friday 9 December 1994,Official Report, columns 410–14. Sheffield is implementing approved reorganisation proposals which have reduced the primary figure and will reduce the secondary figure by July.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school places surplus to requirements currently exist in (i) Ealing, (ii) other London boroughs and (iii) the remaining local education authorities of the country; what costs are involved in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Robin Squire

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on Friday 9 December 1994,Official Report, columns 410–14. The average premises-related cost of maintaining a surplus place is estimated to be £182 a year for a primary school and £303 a year for a secondary school at 1995–96 prices. The actual cost and scope for

Proposals under consideration for:-
LEA (a) Up to 3 months (b) 3–6 months (c) 6–9 months (d) 9–2 months (e) In excess of 12 months
Avon 1 3 1
Barnet 1
Bedfordshire 1 1
Berkshire 3 5
Birmingham 5 1
Bradford 1 1
Buckinghamshire 3 1 2
Cambridgeshire 1
Cheshire 4 6 1
Croydon 1 1
Cumbria 6
Devon 1
Doncaster 29 8
Durham 1
Ealing 1
East Sussex 2 1
Essex 7 4
Gloucestershire 1
Greenwich 1
Hammersmith and Fulham 2
Hampshire 4 3 1
Haringey 1
Harrow 1
Hillingdon 1

realising savings from removal of surplus places in practice will depend on local circumstances.