Ethnic Minorities

HC Deb 08 June 1992 vol 209 cc2-3W

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if specific guidelines exist for prioritising education bids for section 11 funding.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No specific guidelines have been issued about how local authorities should exercise their own judgment in prioritising their applications for section 11 funding, either within or between education and other service areas.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate total spending by his Department for section 11 grants, at current prices, for each year since 1987, and projected allocation for section 11 funding in 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The total amount of section 11 grant paid in each financial year since 1987–88 at current prices was as follows:

	£ million
1987–88	123.0
1988–89	109.5
1989–90	132.8
1990–91	144.9
1991–92	113.0

Current expenditure plans are as follows:

	£ million
1992–93	129.7
1993–94	136.0
1994–95	139.0

Expenditure plans for 1995–96 will be included in the autumn statement.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate for each year since 1987, in both net figures at current prices and as a proportion of total section 11 funding, the amount of section 11 money allocated to non-education bids.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Under arrangements operating until 31 March 1992, precise figures for the amount of grant paid for non-education expenditure are not available. It is estimated, however, that non-education provision has accounted for approximately 20 per cent. of total grant in the past.

For new projects starting in 1992–93, the provisional allocation in respect of the potential grant cost of non-education projects in 1992–93 is some £11.5 million representing some 11 per cent. of the total grant.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for 1991–92, what proportion of section 11 bids which were given high priority by local authorities were not approved by his Department.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

As a result of the consideration of bids submitted in 1991 for funding under the new arrangements for section 11 grant to take effect from 1 April 1992, 17 per cent. of project bids listed in the top 20 per cent. of local authorities' priority lists were not approved.