HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 cc404-5W
Kate Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ensure that when an integrated school is established in an area, funds are not reduced for other local schools. [3342]

Mr. Worthington

A key principle of the local management of schools arrangements is that a large part of a school's budget is determined largely by the enrolment. If the take-up of places in new grant-maintained schools affect the enrolments in other schools, it could also have implications for the budgets of those schools which will, of course, then have lower running costs.

Kate Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide additional funding in the next financial year to encourage the establishment of integrated schools. [3343]

Mr. Worthington

In the coming months I intend to review, in consultation with relevant interests, the present approach to the establishment of integrated schools to determine how best to encourage the development of this sector. It is too early to say how much, if any, additional funding will be made available next year.

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