§ Dr. PughTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cash value in 2002–03 was of the standards funds programmes and specific grants which are to be abolished, as announced in the ministerial statement on 9 December. [88968]
§ Mr. MilibandThe total cash values, in 2002–03, being provided by DfES in respect of programmes that will cease to attract grant funding over the next three years is:
£ million Programmes that will cease to attract grant funding in: Cash value provided in 2002–03 2003–04 736 2004–05 343 2005–06 696 These sums are accumulative. They represent both programmes where the activities previously supported are scheduled to cease; and programmes where it will be for schools and LEAs to use part of the increases in Education Formula Spending for the next three years announced in the 2002 Spending Review, if they wish to continue all of the activities for which grant funding was provided in 2002–03.
Alongside this, DfES will be transferring £500 million in 2003–04, £500 million in 2004–05 and £1,340 million in 2005–06 from its grant provision to Education Formula Spending. This transfer of resources to Education Formula Spending, and the associated cessation of ring-fenced grant support, demonstrate DfES' commitment to reduce the proportion of local authority funding provided as ring-fenced grant.