HC Deb 20 March 1995 vol 257 c101W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many surplus places there are in Bolton's local authority(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and what is the cost of such empty places. [14238]

Mr. Robin Squire

In January 1994, there were 2,187 surplus primary places and 2,000 surplus secondary places in Bolton LEA maintained schools, representing 9 per cent. and 10 per cent. of capacity respectively. We estimate that the cost of maintaining these places is in the region of £1 million. Not all these places are in practice removable. Increasing pupil numbers will fill many of them.