§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the planned level of Government expenditure on(a) TECs and (b) LECs in 1995–96. [22445]
§ Mr. PaiceIn 1995–96, the Government are planning to invest in excess of £1.2 billion in training and enterprise councils in England. This funding will be provided by the Employment Department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment, through the single regeneration budget. It will cover the range of activities for which TECs are responsible, notably management of training and vocational education initiatives, business support services and local economic regeneration.
The Government also invest considerable sums in local enterprise companies in Scotland and TECs in Wales. The
Date Location Number of schools invited1 Number of schools represented Number of delegates Cost2 £ 5 December 1995 Manchester 3,192 61 127 9,273 27 January 1995 Swindon 357 24 65 5,446 23 February 1995 Gatwick 3,114 43 81 7,113 1 March 1995 Norwich 1,660 49 101 3,662 10 March 1995 London 3,500 75 147 7,327 14 March 1995 Bournemouth 3,114 75 164 7,044 Total 39,865 1 The same schools were invited to more than one conference in order to give headteachers and governors more choice over date and location. Costs listed are those attributable to specific conferences. In addition, there are two on-going contracts: one for support services, under which for these six conferences some £48,000 can be attributed, and one for mailings, with £8,500 attributable.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many delegates attended the GM speakers' conference at the Hotel Russell on 27 and 28 February; and what was the total cost of(a) the conference and (b) expenses claimed by delegates. [22452]
§ Mr. Robin SquireA total of 190 delegates from GM schools attended this conference, which cost £32,676. They have claimed a further £8,743 in travelling expenses.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of grant-maintained schools which submitted bids for the financial year 1995–96, for capital grant allocations for named projects; what was the value of the bids submitted; for how many schools an allocation for named projects was approved; and what was the total value of allocations for named projects. [22457]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThese matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.