Education Action Zones

HC Deb 03 March 1999 vol 326 c766W

Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to introduce education action zones in Northern Ireland. [72919]

Mr. McFall

I have no plans to introduce Education Action Zones in Northern Ireland. Alternative measures, including the School Support Programme, are already in place to help to raise standards in schools serving areas of social and economic deprivation. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, additional resources are being made available to bring an additional 30 schools into the School Support Programme each year, and to provide extra support to other schools in socially disadvantaged areas.