§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that sufficient school places are available throughout Northern Ireland for pupils (and their parents) who wish to be in integrated education. [HL2064]
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonMy department has developed a strategic approach to the further development of integrated education in Northern Ireland, not only through the approval of new schools, where they are robust and viable, but by supporting the transformation of existing schools to integrated status. In November 1999, my department issued a comprehensive information pack on the transformation process to all schools in Northern Ireland to ensure that there is a proper understanding of the process. In addition, my department provides significant funds to the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education to support its promotional and development work in the integrated sector, and has been the main contributor to the Integrated Education Fund, which assists the initial development costs of new schools. The growth of the integrated sector from 10 grant-aided schools with 2,000 pupils in 1989 to 43 schools with over 11,000 pupils in 1999 fully demonstrates my department's commitment to responding to parental demand for integrated education.