§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he plans to make to the SSA methodology following the transfer of funding for 2001–02 for Adult Education, Nursery Education Grant and Care Leavers Grant. [137067]
§ Ms ArmstrongWe have consulted local government on whether adjustments were required to the SSA methodology to reflect the transfers of funding for Adult Education, Nursery Education Grant and Care Leavers Grant. Over 100 responses were received, the vast majority supporting our recommended approach.
I therefore propose that we implement our recommended approach. That is, that we make no change to the SSA methodology for Other Education or Children's Social Services following the transfers for Adult Education and Care Leavers Grant, and that we make a small adjustment to the Under 5s SSA methodology following the transfer of funding for Nursery Education for four-year-olds. The purpose of the adjustment to the Under 5s SSA is to ensure that the distribution of this funding matches, as closely as possible, the previous distribution under specific grant.