Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the ability of the Catholic Church to offer all Catholic pupils a school place if the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions is maintained.

The 'Schools that work for everyone' consultation document recognised that some faiths, including the Catholic Church, have felt unable to open new schools, subject to the 50% cap, through the free school’s route because they say it contravenes religious rules. The Department is considering carefully the results of the consultation and the proposal to remove the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools. We plan to respond on this issue in due course. We value greatly the important role Catholic schools play in our education system and that will continue.