§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information is available to his Department on budgeted expenditure by local education authorities for 1986–87 and 1987–88 relating to the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; which elements of such budgeted expenditure receive specific grant support from his Department; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what arrangements will be in force for 1987–88 to ensure or confirm that departmental spending targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education through (a) rate support grant, (b) education support grant, (c) education training grant and (d) other specific grants is used for that purpose; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what arrangements exist to ensure or confirm that departmental spending targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education through (a) rate support grant, (b) education support grant, (c) in-service education training grant and (d) other specific grants, in each year since 1984 has been used for that purpose; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what information is available to his Department on budgeted expenditure and out-turn expenditure by local education authorities in each year since 1984 relating to the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; what separate programmes of expenditure by local education authorities are relevant to the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; which of these programmes benefit from specific grant support from his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is for local authorities to determine the resources made available for GCSE provision, and this information is not collected centrally. The Government's plans for 1987–88 provide for an increase of 18.8 per cent. in total local authority expenditure compared with the current year; of this some £100 million is intended for GCSE non-teaching costs.
The Government have directed the following substantial resources specifically to help meet GCSE-related costs: £20 million expenditure on GCSE books and equipment 101W is being supported through education support grant and the Manpower Services Commission this year, and a further £10 million will be supported through ESG in 1987–88. For GCSE in-service training, up to £9.5 million has been supported in 1985–87 and £15 million has been set aside for 1987–88.
Expenditure under these schemes is being monitored by the authorities themselves, the Department and HMI.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1987–88 into rate support grant, education support grant, education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1986–87 into rate support grant, education support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1985–86 into rate support grant, education support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1984–85 into rate support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the
Maintained schools (including nursery and special): England October 1986 October 1984 Number Per cent. of (a) Number Per cent. of (a) Pupils in attendance 6,351,870 (a) 6,613,026 (a) Pupils taking school meals: on payment 1,956,310 30.8 2,243,548 33.9 free 1,143,817 18.0 1,147,886 17.4 Total 3,100,127 48.8 3,391,434 51.3 Total Pupils bringing own food 1,937,151 30.5 1,940,682 29.3 Pupils having other arrangements 1,314,592 20.7 1,280,910 19.4 An analysis of the returns shows the following proportions for primary and secondary pupils, as percentages of pupils in attendance.
Primary Secondary 1986 1984 1986 1984 Pupils taking school meals 51.8 53.4 44.5 48.2 Pupils bringing own food 37.3 35.7 23.3 23.2 Pupils having other arrangements 11.0 10.9 32.1 28.6 No Census was carried out in October 1985 due to the effect of the teachers' action on the take-up of school meals.
102Wamount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldI shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.