To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools have obtained grant-maintained status to date.

I announced on 15 July the approval of the 100th GM school and since that date I have announced that I have approved or am minded to approve three more schools. Out of that total I have approved ninety-five secondary schools and I am minded to approve two more.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to take any action against local authorities that use public funds to campaign against grant-maintained schools.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools have so far applied for grant-maintained status.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average length of time between a school's application for grant-maintained status and the decision on the application; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 115 proposals approved, approved with modification, or rejected up to 12 July 1991, the average length of time from publication of proposals to decision was just over four months. It remains our intention to reduce the time taken as the number of proposals increases, but it needs to be borne in mind that there is a two month period immediately following publication to permit objections to be submitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he will take against local authorities that discriminate against pupils who attend grant-maintained schools.

I can assure my hon. Friend that I would act within the limits of my legal powers on any evidence of discrimination that was submitted to me.