HC Deb 28 January 1999 vol 324 cc408-12W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the outcome of statutory notices that have been waiting for more than five months from the date of each statutory notice for determination by him; and if he will(a) list the reasons for the delay in each case and (b) estimate when each determination will be made. [67927]

Ms Estelle Morris

The following list shows proposals published over five months ago and still under consideration. Reasons for delay are also shown. Since all aspects of proposals need to be carefully considered it is not possible to give a precise date for when individual decisions will be made, but most of the proposals on the list below are likely to be decided in February or early March.

Date of publication LEA Proposal Reason for delay
19 August 1998 Gloucestershire Blue Coat CE GM Primary—transfer to new site Planning permission only recently given
16 August 1998 Bromley Significant enlargement of Hayes Primary School School seeking modifications to original proposals
14 August 1998 Brighton and Hove Reorganisation of a number of schools Additional information sought from LEA. Decision deferred to allow objectors to put their concerns direct to Ministers.
30 July 1998 Newbury Turnpike GM School and Shaw House School amalgamation into new county secondary school Late statement of case—received 20 October
30 July 1998 Brent Establish new Jewish Primary School Considering Ofsted advice
20 July 1998 Staffordshire The Faber Primary Change of status from VC to VA Delayed submission to Department
17 July 1998 Solihull Significant enlargement of St. George and St. Theresa RC School Awaiting HMI comments
16 July 1998 Derby City Boulton Junior School and Boulton Infant School—amalgamation into new county primary school Exploration of points of uncertainty with LEA
16 July 1998 Luton Chantry Infant and Junior Schools amalgamation DfEE not notified of proposals until 21 October
16 July 1998 Brent Remove SEN Unit from Mitchell Brooke Primary School and add SEN Unit Oakington Manor School Advice from Ofsted and A&B need to be discussed with LEA
8 July 1998 Croydon Castle Hill Primary School addition of SEN unit Late supply of information by LEA
3 July 1998 East Sussex Claverham Community College addition of sixth form Decision deferred pending outcome of ACG round and further consideration of funding issues
18 June 1998 Westminster Addition of nursery Hampden Gurney CE Primary School Late statement of Case received January 1999
15 June 1998 Portsmouth Establish new school Ministers favourably disposed but awaiting confirmation that proposal can be funded through a cost effective PFI scheme
12 June 1998 Leeds New Jewish Secondary School Site problems
10 June 1998 Buckinghamshire Change of age range from 5–8 to 5–12 and site transfer of St. Mary's CE (VC) First School LEA consultation process being investigated
10 June 1998 Derbyshire Addition of sixth form to St. John Houghton RC GM school A late meeting (early November) with the head of the school to discuss FAS view of the proposals
4 June 1998 Manchester Closure of Woodhouse Park School, Oldwood School and Poundswick School and establishment of a new school Late submission of statements of case. Last required submitted on 16 December.
20 May 1998 Barking and Dagenham Addition of nursery at St. Vincent's RC Primary School Late statement of Case received December. Ofsted comments awaited.
24 April 1998 Warwickshire St. Thomas More RC High School addition of sixth form Timescale of related PFI project
7 April 1998 North Somerset Broadoak School—removal of sixth form Technical and Legal issues on transfer of resources from local authority finance
1 April 1998 Hillingdon Establish VA Sikh primary school—Guru Nanak Sikh Minded to approve decision 22 December

Date of publication LEA Proposal Reason for delay
31 March 1998 Swindon Linden Infant and Junior Schools. Proposed amalgamation to form new school Delays to related special school proposals
12 March 1998 Hackney Establish a new Jewish Secondary School Late statement of case not received until 7 July. Ofsted advice required.
4 March 1998 Haringey Bound's Green Infant's School—significant enlargement Awaiting LEA confirmation of funding arrangements
4 March 1998 Haringey Bound's Green Junior School—significant enlargement Awaiting LEA confirmation of funding arrangements
26 February 1998 Hackney Our Lady's Convent School—significant enlargement Consideration of need for school enlargement and cash limit for project
5 February 1998 Merton Addition of SEN unit at Bushey Middle School Issues concerning appropriate age range for SEN unit and link with possible Borough wide school reorganisation
5 February 1998 Wandsworth Addition of nursery at All Saints CE School Late statement of case received December. Ofsted comments awaited.
30 January 1998 Ealing Addition of sixth form to Walford High School Final decision will follow upon meeting between Ministers and delegation. Meeting to be arranged.
30 January 1998 East Sussex Addition of sixth form at Filsham Valley Decision deferred pending outcome of ACG round and further consideration of funding issues
29 January 1998 Haringey Establish a new school Alexandra Park School Lengthy correspondence about PPP issues
12 December 1997 Devon Axe Valley School and Community College addition of sixth form Availability of finance
23 October 1997 Lancashire (pre 1 April 1998) Addition of nursery at St. Stephen's CE Infant School Awaiting audit of early years provision
16 October 1997 Sunderland Change of age range to add nursery to Benedict Bishop CE Primary School The need to resolve capital issues
1 October 1997 Enfield New secondary school to be established in World's End Lane Favourably disposed decision given on 15 May 1998. Decision required once PFI contract signed.
10 July 1997 Westminster Addition of nursery unit at St. Peter's CE VA Primary School Promoters awaiting planning permission
25 June 1997 Newham Addition of a nursery at St. Edward's RC Primary School and transfer to a new site Early Land ownership issues and recent correspondence with LEA about need for expanded school