§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reasons for the removal of direct links between the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and voluntary grammar schools. [28973]
§ Mr. AncramThe Government have proposed that the recurrent funding of voluntary grammar schools and grant-maintained integrated schools would in future be undertaken by the education and library boards, which are responsible for funding the vast majority of schools in Northern Ireland, both controlled and voluntary.
Many representations on these proposals have been received by my Department as part of the consultation process, which officially ended on 9 June. I will now wish to consider these representations before making final decisions.