§ Ms HodgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much is currently spent by his Department(a) by proportion of national income, (b) by proportion of total education spending, (c) by proportion of Government spending and (d) in cash terms on (1) higher education, (2) pre-school education and (3) primary education. [8700]
§ Mr. ByersThe figures requested are as follows and are estimated outturn for 1996–97, the latest year for which such figures are available:
- (a) 2.0 per cent. (Source: FSBR 97 and PESA 97)
- (b) 30.0 per cent. (Source: PESA 97)
- (c) 5.0 per cent. (Source: PESA 97)
- (d) (1) Expenditure on HE and student support: £6,343 million. (Source: DfEE Departmental Report 1997)
(2) Pre-school education expenditure in 1996–97 was £25.5 million which covered expenditure on the pilot schemes for nursery vouchers. (Source: DfEE Departmental Report 1997).
(3) It is not possible to separate central Government expenditure between primary and secondary schools. However, in addition to central Government expenditure local education authorities spent some £18.4 billion on recurrent education expenditure in 1996–97, of which expenditure on under 5s accounted for £1.4 billion and expenditure on primary schools accounted for £5.7 billion. (Source: DfEE Departmental Report 1997).