§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his review of funding for post-16 education will be completed; who is chairing the review; and if he will make a statement. [32279]
§ Dr. HowellsFunding for post-16 education is being considered as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. It is expected that announcements will be made in the Summer or the Autumn.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce a single unit of resource for 16 to 19 year olds. [32399]
§ Dr. HowellsWe currently have no plans to create such a unit of resource. As our recently published lifelong learning consultation paper, "The Learning Age", makes clear, we will reward providers for retaining people in learning, for raising achievement and for excellence. I will be consulting our partners in the education service before making any proposals about future funding mechanisms for 16 to 19 education.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average level of funding is for 16 to 19 year old students undertaking A level courses in (i) schools and (ii) sixth form colleges. [32280]
§ Dr. HowellsThe estimates of median public funding costs for the achievement of a 3 A-level package in 1995–96 are:
- LEA/Voluntary Aided School Sixth Forms: £6,970
- Grant Maintained School Sixth Forms: £7,010
- Sixth Form Colleges: £6,640
Further information on these figures is in "The Public Funding Costs of Education and Training for 16–19 year olds in England 1995–96", copies of which are in the Library.