HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc30-1W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list each one-day conference in the "Going GM: A conference for Heads and Governors" series, hosted by his Department, that has been held or is planned, giving dates, venues and the speakers for each one.

Mr. Forth

The information available is as follows:

Speakers/Workshop contributors
Venue Date GM Heads DFE Officials
Leeds 16 November 1992 3 4
Bolton 12 December 1992 6 7
Sheffield 15 January 1993 5 5
Manchester1 30 January 1993 6 5
1 Planned.

My noble Friend the Minister of State spoke at the initial conference in Leeds. A GM bursar contributed at Bolton. A representative of the GMSC has attended to run a workshop explaining the services that the GMSC can offer to schools once they are approved for GM status.

Additional DFE conferences are planned as follows:

  • Newcastle: 10 and 11 February
  • Leicester: 15 February
  • Nottingham: 1 and 29 March
  • Birmingham: 19 March

Details of contributors to these conferences have yet to be confirmed.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what are the(a) editorial, (b) design, (c) printing, (d) distribution and (e) total costs, of the conference material sent to potential participants in the series of one-day conferences called "Going GM: A conference for Heads and Governors";

(2) if he will list the total conference costs of the series of one-day conferences hosted by his Department entitled "Going GM: A conference for Heads and Governors", including staff time for civil servants within his Department; and what are the projected costs for all such conferences.

Mr. Forth

The conference material sent to potential participants includes a letter of invitation and a copy of the standard GM information pack. Printing and distribution costs for the information pack included with the invitations were approximately £18,000. The initial mailing of invitations and packs was carried out at a total cost of around £15,000. Further mailings have fallen within the terms of the contract with the departmental despatch centre and therefore costs cannot be identified separately.

The total costs to date for conference accommodation and facilities for the three conferences held at Leeds, Bolton and Sheffield are approximately £20,000. The expected cost of a further seven conferences is approximately £45,000. There is a contract for specialised support services for the conference series at a total cost of £67,000. Disaggregating the costs of civil servants' time could not be achieved other than at disproportionate cost.