asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on integrated education in Northern Ireland; and if he will outline the criteria used for allocating funds to integrated schools.

It is Government policy that integrated education should be encouraged in Northern Ireland wherever there is sufficient local demand for it. Independent integrated schools seeking recognition as grant-aided maintained schools must prove over a period that they are able to attract enough pupils to make them potentially viable. When they are recognised as maintained schools they are funded in the same way as other maintained schools, ie

a. the Department of Education pays the salaries of the teachers;

b. the appropriate education and library board meets the running costs;

c. the Department of Education pays 85 per cent. grant on approved capital expenditure.