HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 cc186-7W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the process and timetable under which a decision on any application to set up a new sixth form in a school will be taken pending the outcome of the review of the funding of sixth forms in schools, indicating the differences in approach dependent on the arrangements for funding any capital works required. [93374]

Ms Estelle Morris

Under both current arrangements and those to be brought into force on 1 September, those proposing to set up a new sixth form at a school must consult in the area and then publish statutory proposals for the change. Under current arrangements, the proposals would fall to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to decide if there were any statutory objections. From September, proposals might fall to the local School Organisation Committee to decide or, if the Committee could not agree, to an Adjudicator. The current target for a decision is five months from the date of publication. No decisions have been made on changes in the system for funding capital work necessary in order to implement proposals, and it is not expected that any changes would affect the statutory proposal system.