§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what money has been committed to date by his Department on the general certificate of secondary education; and how much he expects local authorities to contribute thereto.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Department is already making a substantial contribution to the programme of in-service training for the GCSE of £9.5 million. In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 13 March at column542, my right hon. Friend said that he will be making available a further £200,000 to the GCSE examining groups to enable the provision of further training seminars. For books and equipment for the GCSE, my right hon. Friend also announced on 13 March that he proposed supporting £20 million of expenditure by education support grant over the years 1986–87 and 1987–88 to help secondary schools purchase necessary additional books and equipment. This will allow local education authorities to increase expenditure in these areas but precise demands will vary between schools and local education authorities.
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§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the timetable for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education was decided; and what representations were received from teachers' unions at that time.
§ Mr. Chris PattenMy right hon. Friend annnounced the timetable for the introduction of the GCSE in a statement to the House on 20 June 1984 at columns 303–4. No representations were received from teachers' associations at that time.