AQW 23919/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 07/10/2021
Answered On Date: 14/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance whether consideration was given to the comparative designation of Trustees and Foundations Schools in England and Wales with regards to borrowing powers and restrictions when categorising Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland as Non Departmental Public Bodies requiring Department of Education budget cover for any borrowings undertaken.

Answer:

The classification of schools here, including Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools, to the Public Sector was confirmed in 2005, and communicated by the Treasury following the decision by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). ONS is the independent body responsible for assessing bodies and transactions against international rules to decide how they should be treated in the National Accounts.

The classification of these schools to Public Sector is based on the requirements of the European System of Accounts (ESA). It is this sector classification that ONS uses to determine the treatment of bodies for National Accounts and therefore public expenditure purposes, including the impact of any borrowing on the Executive’s Capital Budget.

As this classification decision was made by ONS, my Department does not hold detailed records as to which other bodies, including Trustees and Foundation Schools in England and Wales, were considered to inform that decision by ONS in 2005.