§ Lord Roganasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in reducing any disparity of funding between primary schools and post-primary schools in (a) England and Wales, and (b) Northern Ireland since the Second Report of the House of Commons Education Committee 1993–94; if not, why not; and whether they have any plans to reduce any disparity. [HL742]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)In England, based on the standard spending assessment (SSA) and grants allocated, funding for primary schools on a per pupil basis has increased at a greater rate than funding for post primary schools. In 1994–95*, the primary per pupil figure was 70 per cent of the post primary: for 2000–01 the primary figure is 80 per cent of the post primary. Between 1994–95 and 1997–98 funding per pupil decreased in real terms by £20 per primary pupil and £260 per post primary. Between 1997–98 and 2000–01 funding per pupil has increased in real terms by £400 per primary pupil and £310 per post primary.
In Wales, there is no education SSA and no comparable figures which identify separately funding per pupil for primary and post-primary schools.
Education responsibilities in Northern Ireland are now the responsibility of the devolved administration.
* Comparable grant figures are not available for 1993–94.Post-primary pupils include those aged 11–19 in the LEA maintained sector.