§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he received the request for approval of the transfer of land adjoining Sibsey School from Lincolnshire county council to the school's foundation trustees; and if he will agree to the transfer. [153359]
§ Jacqui SmithThere has been no application from Lincolnshire county council to the Secretary of State regarding the transfer of land to the Foundation Trustees of Sibsey Free Primary School. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires local authorities to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before they can sell any playing field used by a school in the last 10 years. I understand that the land in question was previously agricultural land and has not yet been used as school playing field. Therefore, Lincolnshire county council does not need the Secretary of State's consent to transfer it to the School's Foundation Trustees.