HC Deb 23 November 2001 vol 375 cc525-6W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what date she took a decision to end the education action zone programme. [17628]

Mr. Timms

All education action zones (EAZs) will complete their agreed full statutory term. Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, EAZs had a maximum statutory term of five years. Our announcement on 14 November proposes that, wherever possible, we aim to continue to support ex-EAZ schools through our excellence in cities (EiC) initiative, following the end of the zones statutory term.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish proposals for future development of former education action zones in(a) rural and (b) suburban areas. [17629]

Mr. Timms

Wherever possible, we aim to find ways of continuing to support ex-EAZ schools following the end of each zone's statutory five-year term. Depending on local circumstances, we hope to do this largely through the excellence in cities initiative. My officials are starting discussions with each zone on the future of the zone, with a view to having firm proposals well before the end of its statutory term.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the costs of winding up education action zones will be. [17632]

Mr. Timms

All education action zones will complete their agreed full statutory term. Each education action zone (EAZ) will need to make arrangements to dispose of any assets and to meet any employment liabilities in accordance with guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills in the EAZ handbook.

The costs will vary from zone to zone depending on their individual circumstances and liabilities. All costs will be met from within the existing education action zone programme budget.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes to the excellence in cities scheme she proposes to accommodate former education action zones. [17630]

Mr. Timms

My Department will discuss with each education action zone, and the relevant excellence in cities (EiC) partnership, the way forward for ex-zone schools. This could include the creation of new non-statutory EiC action zones in existing EiC areas or the development of new excellence clusters in areas not currently covered by EiC.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the education action zones which(a) have and (b) have not achieved their objectives. [17631]

Mr. Timms

All education action zones (EAZs) have individually agreed targets. These targets cover the zone's full five-year statutory term. It will not be possible to assess whether each zone has met its objectives until the end of that term. Progress towards these objectives will continue to be monitored.