HC Deb 18 November 1982 vol 32 cc258-9W
Mr. McNally

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total expenditure on (a) GCE O-level and CSE examinations and (b) the assessment of performance unit in each of the past five years.

Dr. Boyson

(a) The cost of developing and producing GCE O-lėvel and CSE examinations falls to the examination boards while local education authorities and private individuals are responsible for meeting the fees. Information on total expenditure is not available in the Department.

(b) The assessmemt of performace unit is an integral part of the Department and without undue expense it would not be possible separately to determine the total cost of its operations in any financial year. Payments made by the Department to research teams commissioned to develop assessment instruments and conduct monitoring surveys in each of the past five financial years were:

£
1977–78 88,512
1978–79 238,574
1979–80 480,679
1980–81 592,326
1981–82 1,098,808

Other costs include the salaries of the unit's staff, committee expenses and publications. In the financial year ending 31 March 1982 these other costs were estimated to he approximately £133,000.