§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the administration costs of the Belfast Education and Library Board for each year since 1993–94. [HL2007]
§ Baroness AmosThe figures for the eight years to 2002–03 are as follows:
£000's 1995–96 3,983 1996–97 3,872 1997–98 4,150 1998–99 4,024 1999–2000 4,055 2000–01 4,404 2001–02 5,793 2002–03 6,981 The figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £6,464,000 and £6,328,000 respectively but it is important to note that the accounting treatment of administration costs prior to 1995–96 was on a different basis and these amounts are therefore not directly comparable with those for later years.
The increase in costs in the past two years were due in part to non-recurring costs such as redundancy payments, backdated job evaluation payments and maintenance costs. These additional costs were funded from reserves and did not impact on the amount available for distribution to school budgets, which were increased in line with departmental guidance. It is forecast that expenditure for 2003–04 will return to a level more in line with previous years.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 31 March (WA 158) concerning the Belfast Education and Library Board, why the number of non-teaching staff of the board increased by over 16 per cent between 1998–99 and 2002–03. [HL2359]
36WA
§ Baroness AmosInformation is readily available for Belfast Education and Library Board appointments only for the 2001–02 financial year and beyond. For the two-year period up to March 2003, the board's level of non-teaching staff increased by some 6 per cent. This was largely due to a significant increase in the numbers of nursery and classroom assistants appointed in mainstream and special schools to support teachers; to support the introduction and extension of the Making a Good Start initiative; and to provide increased support for children with statements of special education needs.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 31 March (WA 158) concerning the Belfast Education and Library Board, why 56 per cent of the board's staff in 2003 was non-teaching. [HL2360]
§ Baroness AmosEducation and library boards employ, in addition to teaching staff, staff in a wide range of non-teaching occupations. These include many front-line posts such as classroom assistants; school cleaners and caretakers; school transport staff; and school crossing patrols as well as staff in youth clubs and libraries. An analysis of Belfast Education and Library Board staff at March 2003 is as follows:
Category of stall Numbers at March 2003 % Cleaning 645 8 School Meals 627 7 Supervisory Assistants 614 7 Classroom Assistants 608 7 Auxiliary staff 528 6 General and nursery assistants 374 4 HQ staff 313 4 Library 214 3 Caretaking 185 2 Youth 180 2 School Crossing Patrols 112 1 Bus escorts 100 1 Drivers 71 1 Others 147 2 Total non-teaching 4,718 56 Total Teaching 3,741 44 Grand Total 8,459 100