§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors underlay the scale of the increase in the education standard spending84W assessment for Buckinghamshire county council between 1996–97 and 1997–98 relative to that of other local authorities in England. [10699]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe provisional education standard spending assessment for Buckinghamshire in 1997–98 represents an underlying increase of 2.6 per cent. compared with the national average increase of 3.4 per cent. The below average increase is mainly due to a marginal reduction in secondary pupil numbers, a reduction in the proportion of children entitled to free school meals, and a reduction in the area cost adjustment. Standard spending assessments will be finalised at the end of the month.