To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) primary and (b) secondary maintained schools use oversubscription criteria based on religious practice or adherence in their admissions arrangements, broken down by local authority. (210975)

The latest figures published by the Department show that in January 2007 there were 6,255 maintained primary schools and 587 maintained secondary schools designated by the Secretary of State as having a religious character. These schools are permitted to use faith-based oversubscription criteria in order to give higher priority to children who are members of, or practise, their faith. The Department does not collect information on how many of these schools do or do not use faith-based oversubscription criteria.