HC Deb 25 November 1999 vol 339 cc198-9W
Dr. Ladyman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many proprietorial schools there are in England and Wales. [99837]

Ms Estelle Morris

Under the Education Act 1996 all registered independent schools must have a person or body acting as proprietor. From information available on the 2,231 registered independent schools in England, about 16 per cent. appear to be owned and managed by one or a few individual persons or a family; some 57 per cent. have charitable status; and most of the remainder have some form of non-charitable proprietorial company or other body. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Dr. Ladyman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the representatives and operators of proprietorial schools about the impact on them of the decisions of DETR not to issue permits under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985. [99838]

Ms Estelle Morris

Apart from the recent letter from my hon. Friend, the Department has received no approaches from individual independent schools or their representative organisations on this matter.