To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the £200 million allocated to provide additional primary school places in areas with shortages announced on 15 July 2009 will affect funding for new primary provision in areas which have surplus places. (288867)

On 15 July, we announced that we would make up to £200 million available for authorities which are experiencing and forecasting exceptionally high rates of growth in demand for reception places to 2011, to support the provision of permanent places where there is greatest need. Our guidance on this funding includes that authorities which do not have high growth in reception class demand overall, may still apply where they have areas within their borders where there is high growth. We would, however, expect authorities which have high levels of surplus places to justify why these cannot be used to accommodate the additional children.