§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement explaining how he took into account the teachers' pay award when allocating revenue support grant to county councils.
§ Mr. RichardsMy right hon. Friend's 1995–96 local government settlement decisions took account of Welsh local authorities' need to spend and their ability to make efficiency savings. They also reflected the Government's view that public sector pay increases should be paid for through improved performance. Revenue support grant in support of spending is allocated between local authorities in accordance with distribution formulae agreed annually with the local authority associations. The formulae for county councils take account of pupil numbers and the relative costs of teaching them.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the teachers' pay award for each local education authority in Wales; and if he will give figures for employers' contribution to(a) national insurance and (b) pensions in addition to the direct wage costs.
§ Mr. RichardsThe teachers' pay award will cost local education authorities in Wales about £16 million. This excludes the cost of national insurance and pension contributions which cannot be separately identified. I have not estimated the cost to each LEA.