HC Deb 24 February 1989 vol 147 cc805-6W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in cash terms the amount of his Department's money allocated to teacher conversion courses in 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1989–90.

Mrs. Rumbold

I assume that the hon. Member refers to courses designed for teachers converting to teach in shortage subject areas. The local education training grants scheme has supported some £200 million per year of expenditure on in-service training since it was introduced on 1 April 1987. A proportion of these funds will have been directed by LEAs at training involving the conversion, updating and development of teachers' skills in these areas. More specifically, the Government are making available in 1988–89, under the scheme, an earmarked total of £4 million to LEAs to send teachers on one-year retraining courses in mathematics, science and craft, design and technology. The courses in question were set up in response to new teacher supply initiatives by the University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Education which were introduced in 1987–88 and which have been supported by the Government at a cost of £4.16 million.