Targeting Social Need Policy

HC Deb 21 January 1997 vol 288 cc555-6W

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of the targeting social need policy initiative in education in respect of community differentials. [10941]

Mr. Ancram

The Department's targeting social need policy focuses on the targeting of additional resources at those schools with the greatest need in terms of social and educational disadvantage, regardless of the community to which those schools or their pupils belong. Just over 60 per cent. of TSN funding allocated to schools under the local management of schools arrangements goes to Catholic maintained schools, and that is a reflection of the additional identified need in those schools.