§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 556, concerning comments by education authorities on changes in the capacity of schools and places occupied in them, what steps she is taking to ensure that these comments on capacity are made on a basis comparable to that adopted in 1994. [14982]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe annual collection of data on surplus places is governed by the Education (Information as to Provision of Education) (England) Regulations 1994—SI 1994 No. 1256. Local education authorities and the Funding Agency for Schools are required to make a return which includes information on the more open enrolment capacity of each school correct at the third Thursday in January of that year. LEAs and the FAS also provide a commentary which gives them an opportunity to record any possible changes to the capacity of schools, whether as a result of places being filled as pupil numbers rise, or removed, or new places built.