§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the amounts paid to each local education authority in respect of the no-area pooling system in each year since 1980 and the total cost of the system in each of these years.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authority claims for
(£ per annum) 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Primary 644 744 778 806 865 Secondary—under 16 874 1,004 1,026 1,105 1,163 Secondary—over 16 1,403 1,623 1,606 1,673 1,765 Where special provision is made, 75 per cent. of actual costs may be pooled if this is greater than the preceding figures.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the projected budget for the no-area pooling system for the academic year 1985–86; and if he will break this budget down into its constituent parts.
§ Mr. DunnThe estimated pool claims of English local education authorities in 1985–86 for the education of no-area pupils are as follows:
£ million (cash) Tuition costs—primary, middle, secondary and further education 13.7 Tuition costs—nursery, special and adult 2.0 All costs of travelling pupils and refugees 3.9 All other costs 2.2 TOTAL 21.8
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he satisfies himself that the money paid to local education authorities under the no-area pooling system has been spent on enhancing the education of travellers' children.
§ Mr. DunnAdvice from the secretariat of the pooling committee combined with the normal local authority audit procedures are aimed at ensuring that all the items claimed properly fall to be claimed under the Regulations.
The advice of Her Majesty's Inspectorate, based on surveys of provision for traveller pupils conducted in 14 228W money under the no-area pooling system have been refused, or amended in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnClaims are now certified as correct by the chief financial officer of each authority. The Department makes only arithmetical checks upon them. For years up to 1981–82 claims were examined by the district auditor; any amendments to them were made by the auditor and the Department was not usually aware of them. The secretariat of the pooling committee gives advice to authorities on request about which items would properly fall to be claimed under the regulations.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the amount payable per traveller child per year under the no-area pooling system for each year since 1980 (a) in respect of primary education and (b) in respct of secondary education.
§ Mr. DunnThe rates at which local education authorities can pool their tuition costs for travelling pupils in ordinary classes are as follows:
authorities over recent years, is that the no-area pool has been instrumental in encouraging some authorities to launch important initiatives aimed at meeting the particular educational needs of traveller children.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the no-area pooling system encourages the integration of travellers's children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnLocal education authorities may seek reimbursement from the no-area pool in respect of all kinds of provision made for the education of travellers' children. The pooling arrangements neither encourage nor militate against the integration of such children into the mainstream classroom.