HC Deb 10 June 1986 vol 99 cc159-60W
46. Mr. Sean Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest projection for public expenditure on education as a proportion of overall public expenditure.

Mr. Chris Patten

The provisional outturn figure for public expenditure in 1985–86 on education which is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science represents over 10 per cent. of the public expenditure planning total. Spending on education which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is excluded from this figure.

56. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average increase per child in education spending since 1979; and how much of that increase is accounted for by teachers' pay.

Mr. Dunn

The net institutional expenditure per primary and secondary school pupil was £515 in 1979–80 and £925, an increase of £410, in 1984–85. The figure in 1984–85 would have been £660, ie £265 lower than it was, if 1979–80 teacher salary rates had applied in that year. Teachers' pay therefore accounts for £265 or 65 per cent. of the total increase. The rest of the difference is accounted for by the increases in other costs and changes in the pupil: teacher ratio.

Dr. Twinn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total amount at present held in reserve for voluntary aided capital expenditure for 1986–87;

(2) how many major allocations have been made to voluntary aided schools following the announcement of allocations for 1986–87 made in December; and to what value.

Mr. Dunn

The only reserve for capital expenditure at aided schools is held in respect of projects flowing from those statutory proposals which were awaiting the Secretary of State's decision when the allocations were announced in December 1985. Since then, additional allocations totalling some £2.25 million in 1986–87 have been made in respect of the 12 proposals approved; a further six proposals with associated expenditure of some £1,000,000 are not yet decided.

Dr. Twinn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the local education authority prescribed expenditure provided by his Department was allocated to schools for the years 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87, respectively.

Mr. Dunn

Allocations of prescribed expenditure are not grants but represent limits on the capital spending which LEAs may undertake. They are unhypothecated but LEAs are normally provided with indications of the notional elements for both schools and further education within them. For the years requested the notional schools element and total allocation were:

Schools Element £ million Total Allocation £ million
1983–84 214.0 293.2
1984–85 224.4 309.1
1985–86 230.0 305.6
1986–87 232.9 293.0