§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State far Education and Science if he will publish his proposals for the programme of education support grants in 1989–90.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI have written to the local authority associations proposing expenditure of £125.5 million on the programme next year. Some £48.5 million of this will be for the continuing support of projects begun in earlier years, and £77 million will be for new and extended activities. The purposes for which I propose to pay grant are set out in the table. My main priority in drawing these proposals has been to reflect the priorities of the Education Reform Bill now before Parliament. £35 million of the new expenditure would be devoted to activities relating to financial delegation, including over £5 million for training governors in schools and colleges. I propose to make some £30 million of support available in areas relating to the introduction of the national curriculum, including £10 million for information technology equipment as well as almost £9 million earmarked for science and English.
I also intend to make £9 million available for adult literacy and educational guidance programmes, open learning and the training of youth leaders for the inner cities. There will be further funding for advanced computer-aided engineering equipment.
I believe that this programme will help local education authorities introduce the national curriculum and the wide-ranging changes in the management of schools and colleges proposed in the Education Reform Bill.
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Expenditure in 1989–90 cash Total in new starts plus committed Rate of Grant 2. Financial Delegation to Colleges 1.2 1.2 70 3. Training for School Governors 4.9 4.9 70 4. Training for FE College Governors 0.2 0.2 70 National Curriculum Related 5. LEA Inspection 1.9 1.9 70 6. National Curriculum 10.0 10.0 70 7. English in the Curriculum 4.8 4.8 70 Social Responsibility and Inner Cities 8. Youth Leaders for the Inner Cities 2.4 2.4 70 9. Establishment of Adult Literacy Centres 3.0 3.0 70 10. Improvement and expansion of Educational Guidance for Adults 2.0 2.0 70 EXTENSIONS Financial Delegation—Related 11. Management Information Systems in FE 3.5 6.8 70 National Curriculum—Related 12. IT in Schools—expansion of hardware scheme 10.0 20.9 150/70 13. Science and Technology in Primary Schools 4.0 10.9 50 Social Responsibility and Inner Cities 14. Open Learning 1.7 3.0 70 15. Computer Aided Engineering 2.3 2.3 70 Activities Continuing without New Starts 16. Action to combat misuse of drugs — 0.3 70 17. Maths in Schools — 8.3 50 18. Improving the Quality of Education in Rural Primary Schools — 1.5 70 19. Improving the Quality of Education in Urban Primary Schools — 0.4 70 20. Education for a Multi-Ethnic Society — 2.7 70 21. PICK UP — 0.2 70 22. IT in Non-Advanced FE — 4.6 70 23. Education for the Unemployed — 0.4 70 24. Support for Parents of Children under 5 with Severe Learning Difficulties — 1.9 70 25. Pilot projects to develop the use of the spoken word — 0.3 70 26. Promotion of social responsibility in young people — 1.3 70 27. Pilot project to develop Records of Achievement — 1.2 50 28. Diversification of First Foreign Language in Schools — 0.5 70 29. Learning by Achievement for 14–21 year olds — 2.1 70 30. School teacher and lecturer appraisal — 0.5 70 Totals 76.9 125.5 1 It is proposed that grant should be paid at 50 per cent. on the second tranche of expenditure and at 70 per cent. on commitments arising from 1988–89.