Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Thursday, 19 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 November 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Primary Education: Lancashire

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on proposed primary school closures in West Lancashire.

Answer: None. School place planning is the statutory responsibility of individual local authorities (LAs). This includes making sure there are sufficient school places, and also removing surplus places when required. To facilitate this LAs have the power to propose the closure of maintained schools.Where LAs propose to make any changes to local school provision, including closures, they must follow a statutory process, which is then decided under established local decision making arrangements. Ministers have no direct role in the process.

Secondary information