HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc590-2W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those schools which have been required to modify the admissions policy submitted as part of their proposals for grant-maintained status before having their application approved. [23652]

Mr. Robin Squire

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority the schools holding ballots on grant-maintained status since 1 January 1994, giving in each case(a) whether the outcome favoured or opposed grant-maintained status, (b) whether the governing body applied for a grant under section 36 of the Education Act 1993, (c) the maximum grant available and (d) the amount of grant (i) claimed and (ii) paid: [23654]

Mr. Robin Squire

The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools held ballots on grant-maintained status; how many of each voted in favour of and against becoming grant-maintained; and if she will list the amount of eligible parents in each sector who (i) voted in favour, (ii)

GM ballots
Primary schools
Total number of ballots Eligible voters Actual voters Yes votes No votes Number abstained Number of yes ballots Number of no ballots
April 1993–31 March 1994 274 96,822 66,946 41,655 25,291 29,876 201 73
1 April 1994–31 March 1995 94 30,956 21,155 10,231 10,924 9,801 55 39

Secondary Schools
Total number of ballots Eligible voters Actual voters Yes votes No votes Number abstained Number of yes ballots Number of no ballots
1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 171 218,518 135,779 76,612 59,167 82,739 107 13 64
1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 43 54,830 33,965 14,867 19,098 20,865 13 30

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of funding(a) the GM information team and (b) the GM information line in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the budgets for 1995–96; [22790]

(2) how many staff are employed in staffing (a) the grant-maintained information team and (b) the grant-maintained information line. [22781]

Mr. Robin Squire

Currently there are 10 staff employed in the Department's grant-maintained schools information team, dealing with GM publications and organising Going GM conferences. The grant-maintained information line is staffed by members of the team.

The team's costs—including pay, superannuation, employers' national insurance contributions, accommodation, travel and administrative costs—were approximately £330,000 in 1993–94 and £410,000 in 1994–95; and it is estimated they will be some £4020,000 in 1995–96. However, these figures are not wholly comparable because of changes in accounting arrangements between 1993–94 and 1994–95. Expenditure on the GM information line cannot be disaggregated from the Department's general telephone costs.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost to her Department of materials and staff involved in the campaign to persuade schools to opt for grant-maintained status. [22897]

Mr. Robin Squire

The Department's information activities concerning grant-maintained schools are designed to provide factual, unbiased information, not to persuade schools to "opt-out". The total expenditure on GM publications, including videos, since 1988 is some £1,200,000. This represents spending of about 16p per pupil in England.

voted against and (iii) did not take part in the ballots for the years (1) 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 and (2) 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995.

Mr. Robin Squire

The information requested is set out in the table.

The grant-maintained schools information team was established during 1991–92. The team's costs—including pay, superannuation, employers' national insurance contributions, accommodation, travel and administrative costs—are estimated at approximately £330,000 in 1993–94 and £410,000 in 1994–95. These figures are not wholly comparable because of changes in internal accounting arrangements between the two years.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority the grant-maintained secondary schools, indicating for each(a) the percentage of pupils entitled to receive free schools meals and (b) the percentage for the secondary sector in each local authority.

Mr. Robin Squire

A table showing the information requested has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost to her Department of the free video tapes outlining the advantages of opting for grant-maintained status which are provided to parents with children in schools balloting on opt-out proposals. [22898]

Mr. Robin Squire

The video "Our Children, Our Choice" provides factual information to those interested in grant-maintained status. It cost some £48,000 to produce and some £30,000 for the 20,000 copies made to date, giving a total cost of £78,000—£3.90 per tape.

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