§ Lord Dormand of Easingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the average amount of grant paid to religious schools for (a) capital and (b) revenue costs over each of the last 10 years. [HL4513]
§ 1. Baroness BlackstoneThe Secretary of State for Education and Employment pays grant to the governors of voluntary aided (VA) schools in England in respect of their liability for building work. The large majority of VA schools have a religious character. It is not possible to identify separately only that grant paid to VA schools with a religious character. The table below shows total grants paid to VA schools in England in respect of building works for each financial year.
Financial year Total grant paid £ million Number of VA*schools Average per school £ 1990–91 104 4,388 23,701 1991–92 111 4,352 25,506 1992–93 114 4,309 26,456 1993–94 114 4,261 26,754 1994–95 112 4,086 27,411 1995–96 96 4,025 23,851 1996–97 100 4,006 24,963 1997–98 112 3,993 28,049 1998–99 124 3,980 31,156 1999–2000 130 3,972 32,729 Notes:
*At January, ie 1999–2000 shows number of VA schools in January 1999.
2. Figures include special agreement schools prior to 1999.
3. From 1997–98, table includes New Deal for Schools expenditure paid as VA grant.
4. Table excludes capital expenditure by LEAs on VA schools, and expenditure under the grant maintained programme to schools becoming VA from 1 September 1999.
Capital support for other types of maintained school is made to local education authorities. Voluntary controlled schools, most of which have a religious character, and the small number of foundation and community schools that have a religious character do not normally receive capital support direct from the department. The department does not hold information on the proportion of capital grants that go to such schools.
Central government support for the revenue costs of all maintained schools is paid through LEAs and no central record is kept of the proportion going to schools with a religious character.