§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the expenditure to be supported through education support grants in 1986–87.
§ Sir Keith JosephOn 22 May I announced the Government's intention to increase the expenditure supported through education support grants in the financial year 1986–87 up to around £40 million of expenditure by local education authorities in England. Of this sum, £18.6 million is committed to projects which began in 1985–86, including £1 million held in reserve for projects concerning the management and appraisal of school-teachers. Local education authorities were therefore invited to bid for new starts in 1986–87 amounting in value to £21.5 million.
The programme of new starts next year will consist of 12 activities, five newly introduced, and seven which were in the 1985–86 programme and have further starts in 1986–87. All 96 local education authorities in England have bid for grant support. For each of the 12 activities the total of bids exceeded the expenditure which could be supported.
In respect of 11 of the 12 activities, the Department will shortly inform local education authorities of the levels of expenditure for each activity which I have approved for 1986–87. Bids for the remaining activity (pilot projects to meet the educational needs of ethnic minorities) are being considered alongside educational bids under the urban programme. I shall announce approvals for that activity in the early spring.
Subject to the passage of the necessary legislation, a further activity will be added to the 1986–87 programme securing the supervision of pupils in schools at midday. Approvals will be announced later.
The table sets out for the 11 activities which are the subject of the present approvals the level of expenditure to be supported in the financial year 1986–87 and the number of authorities for whom I have approved projects.
290W
Split of expenditure between activities £ million at 1986–87 prices Activity Total allocation Number of LEAs to be supported I: The teaching of science and technology as part of primary education. 2.5 55 II: Pilot projects to improve the quality or range of the curriculum provided in primary schools in rural areas. 0.5 7 IV: The provision of retraining and updating courses directed towards the needs of industry and commerce (PICKUP). 1.6 37 V: The development of the use of information technology in further education. 9.0 96 VI: The planning, development and coordination of provision to meet the educational needs of the unemployed. 1.6 40 VII: The provision of data processing equipment for use in the management of further education establishments. 1.0 70 IX: The development, provision and appraisal of courses of initial training for school governers. 0.1 10 IX: The provision of services to support parents in the teaching of children under five with special educational needs. 1.2 44 X: The provision of computerised learning aids at further education establishments for use by students with special educational needs. 0.5 32 XI: The strengthening of college employer links to improve the quality and relevance of NAFE provision. 0.5 22 XII: Action within the education service to combat the misuse of drugs. 2.0 96 Total 20.5 508