§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to pay a special education grant to Herefordshire for the 2002–03 financial year; and if she will make a statement. [25315]
§ Mr. TimmsIn 2002–03 there is over £1.3 billion extra in Education Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs); a further increase in Standards Fund grant of almost £160 million; and an increase in the direct grant for schools of 2.75 per cent. The scale of these increases means there is less need for special grant support from Government and we have no plans to pay such a grant to Herefordshire for 2002–03.