HC Deb 14 January 1994 vol 235 cc286-7W
Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of the printing, publishing and distribution of Sir Ron Dearing's interim report; and what are the estimated costs in respect of the final report.

Mr. Robin Squire

The printing and distribution costs of the interim report were £200,000. Comparable costs for the final report are estimated at £460,000.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education for each key stage and curriculum area, what are the pilot and development costs; and if he will identify those items of expenditure incurred in respect of those aspects now withdrawn as a result of the Dearing review.

Mr. Robin Squire

Most of these costs were incurred by the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council and date from the passing of the Education Reform Act 1988. Both councils have now been dissolved and it is not possible to identify the items of expenditure requested from their published accounts. Further work to identify the expenditure would incur disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost, since the enactment of the Education Reform Act 1988, of the development and implementation of the national curriculum and of the associated assessment of children.

Mr. Robin Squire

Expenditure by the Department on the development and implementation of the national curriculum and the associated assessment of children for the years 1988–89 to 1992–93 inclusive was £469 million. This mainly comprises grant in aid to the National Curriculum Council, the School Examinations and Assessment Council and the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and funding under the grants for education support and training programme.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what have been the costs of external assessors in evaluating the various stages of the national curriculum and its assessment.

Mr. Robin Squire

There has been a variety of external evaluations of the national curriculum and its assessment, carried out under the auspices of the National Curriculum Council, the School Examinations and Assessment Council, and its successor, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The Office for Standards in Education has also evaluated various aspects of the national curriculum. Information on the expenditure incurred is not held centrally by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.