HC Deb 26 November 1984 vol 68 cc355-6W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much was spent, per child, in real terms in each of the last five years in primary and secondary schools in Essex on (a) books, (b) equipment and (c) maintenance and repair, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties;

(2) what has been the real value of the capitation allowances in the primary and secondary schools in Essex for each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties;

(3) how much was spent in real terms in each of the last five years on each child attending primary and secondary schools in Essex, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

Mr. Dunn

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of school leavers in Essex with O and A-level passes for each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

Mr. Dunn

The information requested is given in the following table.

Percentages of School Leavers in England
1 or more A level passes 1 or more higher grades at O level
Essex Non-metropolitan counties Essex Non-metropolitan counties
1978–79 12.5 13.1 42.8 41.0
1979–80 14.3 13.1 43.5 41.7
1980–81 13.1 14.1 44.1 42.3
1981–82 14.9 14.8 46.2 43.8
1982–83 14.6 15.1 45.9 45.1

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of education welfare officers and educational psychologists in Essex in each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

Mr. Dunn

The number of educational psychologists employed by Essex over the years in question is shown in the following table. This compares the number each year with the average number employed by the 40 non-metropolitan counties.

Part-time educational psychologists are shown as full-time equivalents. Information about the employment of education welfare officers is not collected by the Department.

Educational psychologists employed as at January in each year
Year 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Essex 25.0 27.1 27.5 27.5 27.5
Average overall Non-metropolitan counties 12.8 12.8 13.2 13.5 14.8