§ Mrs. Roeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the amount of expenditure and the activities to be supported through education support grants in the financial year 1987–88.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe Education (Grant and Awards) Act 1984 empowers the holder of my office to pay education support grant to local education authorities in England. It is intended that expenditure supported through education support grant will amount to some £53 million in 1987–88. I propose to devote £31.5 million of this total of planned expenditure to committed expenditure arising from projects first approved in earlier years. About £10.1 million will be available to support new starts on existing activities and £11.3 million on new activities. Grant will be paid at the rate of 70 per cent. on the amount of expenditure approved for support through education support grants.
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Committed Expenditure on Activities begun in earlier years Category Committed Expenditure to be supported through ESG in 1987.88 Number of LEAs to be supported Total length of support £ million The teaching of mathematics in schools 6.3 94 4 years The teaching of science and technology as part of primary education 7.7 92 4 years Pilot projects to develop records of achievement for young people in secondary schools and colleges 2.3 14 3 years Pilot projects to improve the quality of education provided in primary schools in urban areas 0.8 12 5 years Pilot projects to improve the quality or the range of the curriculum provided in primary schools in rural areas 1.3 15 5 years Pilot projects to meet the educational needs of those from ethnic minorities 1.9 44 Up to 5 years The development, provision and appraisal of courses of initial training for school governors 0.1 10 2 years Action within the education service to combat the misuse of drugs 2.3 96 2 years The management and appraisal of school teachers 1.0 * Up to 5 years The provision of retraining and updating courses directed towards the needs of industry and commerce (PICKUP) 1.4 61 3 years The development of the use of information technology at further education establishments, by providing equipment, preparing or providing course material and computer software and training teachers employed at such establishments 3.4 58 5 years The planning, development and co-ordination of provision to meet the educational needs, including the need for guidance of those who are unemployed (excluding those currently receiving full-time education) 1.7 42 2 years The provision of services to support parents in the teaching of children under five with special educational needs 1.3 44 3 years Total 31.5 * This expenditure has yet to be allocated; it is hoped to do so during the course of 1986–87. Following consultations with representatives of the local education authorities, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today laid before Parliament draft regulations setting out the new purposes for or in connection with which we propose to pay education support grants in 1987–88. Those regulations will amend the Education Support Grants Regulations 1984 and will be subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament.
The following tables show the activities on which expenditure is committed in 1987–88 and the new extended activities which I propose should rank for education support grant in England in 1987–88, the amount of expenditure for each; a provisional assessment of the number of LEAs likely to be supported and the length of support. The precise division of the £21.4 million available for new and extended activities between these purposes and the number of authorities to be supported will not be settled until applications have been received and considered.
Should Parliament approve the regulations, a circular inviting bids will be sent to all education authorities in England. I propose to ask authorities to submit bids by 1 October and I further propose to announce decisions on applications in December.
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Expenditure on New Starts Category New expenditure envisaged to be supported through ESG in Financial Year 1987–88 Provisional assessment of number of LEAs to be supported Likely length of support £ million The provision of retraining and updating courses directed towards the needs of industry and commerce (PICKUP) 0.8 16 3 years The development of the use of information technology at further education establishments, by providing equipment, preparing or providing course material and computer software, and training teachers employed at such establishments. 4.8 All 3 years The planning, development and co-ordination of provision to meet the educational needs, including the need for guidance, of those who are unemployed (excluding those currently receiving full-time education). 1.75 About half Up to 2 years The provision of data processing equipment, accessories and software for use in the management of further education establishments. 1.5 Most 2 years The provision of services to support parents in the teaching of children under five with special educational needs. 0.5 10–20 3 years The provision of computerised learning aids at further education establishments for use by students with special educational needs. 0.5 30–40 1 year The strengthening of College-employer links to improve the quality and relevance of NAFE provision. 0.25 10 1 year * The provision of books and equipment for GCSE examination courses in schools. 10.0 All 2 years * Pilot projects to develop the use of the spoken word by pupils aged 5 to 16. 0.3 5 3 years * Pilot projects to promote social responsibility among young people. 1.0 10–20 5 years Total 21.4 * New activities to be supported in 1987.88.