To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the reasons for the delay in the decision on Stoke-on-Trent school reorganisation in Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend approved on 5 April Staffordshire's proposals to cease to maintain Burnwood and Chell high schools in Stoke-on-Trent and establish a new secondary school in the Chell premises, and to cease to maintain Chell and Fegg Hayes primary schools and establish a new primary school at Fegg Hayes. I am meeting representatives of the authority on 13 April regarding its proposals to cease to maintain Brookhouse and Willfield high schools and establish a new secondary school at Brookhouse and it is hoped that a decision will be announced very soon. The other proposals to rationalise provision in Stoke-on-Trent attracted no statutory objections and the LEA has therefore determined to implement them.