Senator Allison asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Science and Training, upon notice, on 9 September 2003:

(1) How many and which new non-government schools received funding in 2003.

(2) How many students are there in each of these new schools.

(3) What will be the Commonwealth SES funding for these new schools in 2003.

(4) What will be the Commonwealth capital works funding for these new schools in 2003.

(5) How many and which non-government schools have closed so far in 2003.

(6) How many students were in each of these schools.

Senator Vanstone (Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation) —The Minister for Education, Science and Training has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) As of 22 September 2003, there have been a total of 14 new schools approved for Australian Government recurrent funding (2 in NSW, 7 in QLD, 2 in VIC and 3 in WA). A detailed list of the approved schools is at Attachment A.

(2) There are a total of 680.4 primary students and 297 secondary students in the schools approved for recurrent funding (see Attachment A).

(3) An estimated annual entitlement total of $3,402,643 will be paid to these new approved schools for Recurrent Funding and an estimated annual entitlement of $488,700 for Establishment Grants (see Attachment A).

(4) Of the 14 schools approved for funding, only 4 schools have received Commonwealth Capital works funding. A total of $2,169,552 has been paid to these 4 schools (see Attachment A).

(5) To date there has been only 1 school that has closed so far in 2003, Bentleigh Chabad Jewish Day School.

(6) Based on the Victorian State Census day, 28 February 2003, Bentleigh Chabad Jewish Day School had 31 students enrolled at the school.