To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many warning notices have been issued to schools by each local authority in each year from 1997 to 2008; and if he will make a statement. (261645)

Local authorities are not currently required to inform the Secretary of State if they issue a warning notice but since April 2007 (when the Education and Inspections Act 2006 came into force) have been under a duty to copy all warning notices to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools.

Between April 2007 and August 2008 17 warning notices were issued to schools Between September 2008 and mid February 2009, 24 warning notices have been issued.