asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school closures his Department has approved since 1979; and what information he has on the subsequent use of the school buildings and land.

Since 1979, the closures of 1,576 schools have been either approved by me or my predecessors or determined by local education authorities, under section 12(7) of the Education Act 1980. Authorities and voluntary bodies are entitled to make use of or dispose of redundant school sites and premises as they wish without informing the Department.