§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what provision he has made for the financial year 2000–01 to meet the costs incurred by Kent County Council Education Authority through the provision of interpreters to assist unaccompanied minors and the children of asylum seekers and economic migrants; [125275]
587W(2) what has been the cost to the schools budget, for the latest year for which figures are available, of the provision of interpreters for unaccompanied minors and the children of asylum seekers and economic migrants; how much of this money has been refunded by central Government to local education authorities; and if he will make a statement. [125277]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 12 June 2000]The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant is a key element of our strategy for raising standards for minority ethnic pupils, including unaccompanied minors and children of asylum seekers, who are at risk of underachieving, and for meeting the particular needs of pupils for whom English is an Additional Language. The total allocation of the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant for Kent in 2000–01 is £2,459,221. The costs of providing interpretation can be met from within this Grant.
The information on the cost to the whole school budget of the provision of interpretation for unaccompanied minors and children of asylum seekers is not kept centrally by the Department, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.