Grant-maintained Schools

HC Deb 07 November 1996 vol 284 cc627-8W

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment from what source she expects the Funding Agency for Schools to obtain the costs of establishing a new grant-maintained school under powers granted to it. [2698]

Mr. Robin Squire

The capital costs that fall to the Funding Agency for Schools when it establishes a new grant-maintained school would have to be met from the capital resources available to the agency. The recoupment of recurrent costs from the local education authority in which a new GM school is situated will be considered case by case.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 4 November,Official Report, column 376, if borrowing by grant-maintained schools to expand their capacity by up to 50 per cent. by means of commercial borrowing or the private finance initiative, will be taken into account in their grant formula as distinct from the formulae used for schools of their category expanding their capacity. [2985]

Mr. Squire

It is for the Funding Agency for Schools to decide how the sums available for GM schools' capital are distributed among individual schools in the light of the priorities for GM capital spending.