§ Mr. DorrellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools have not taken up their entitlement under the scheme to provide £1,000 for new books which he announced on 29 January; [37701]
(2) what is his current estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the scheme to provide £1,000 for each school for new books which he announced on 29 January. [37702]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 7 April 1998]: The total grant available for new books in 1997–98 was £23m, including £1m for grant-maintained schools, found from savings with existing Departmental budgets. LEA-maintained schools have received grant through the Standards Fund, paid via their LEA. So far 97 per cent. of the Standards Fund grant offered has been claimed by authorities. The final figure for take up will be known in the autumn. The Funding Agency for Schools has allocated the £1m for GM schools. Expenditure figures for individual schools are not held centrally.