To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Reading, East of 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 406W, on schools, how many maintained schools there were in each local education authority at the end of each year since 1997; what the capacity in terms of pupil numbers was in each case; and what the actual number of pupils was in each year. (190752)

The available information on the number of schools and pupils in each local authority is derived from data collected via the School Census and is published annually by the Department. From 2005 the figures can be found in the Statistical First Release ‘DCSF; Schools and Pupils in England’, the latest of which can be accessed at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/index.shtml. Figures for 2004 and earlier were published in the Statistical Volume ‘Statistics of Education, Schools in England’ which can be accessed at:

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/gateway/DB/VOL/v000459/index.shtml

Equivalent publications are available for earlier years.

Copies of school and pupil numbers are shown in tables which will be placed in the House Library. I will write to the hon. Member, and place in the House Library, information on school capacity.