To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to take further action to encourage schools to seek grant-maintained status.

The 1988 Act gives parents and governors the opportunity to seek grant-maintained status for their school. There has been a rapid expansion in the number of grant-maintained schools and a lot of interest among parents and governors. I anticipate that there will be many more applications for GM status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to make all local education authority secondary schools grant maintained.

It is for parents and governors to decide whether to seek grant-maintained status for their school. My right hon. Friend will consider every application on its merits.