§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the criteria he has adopted to determine the standard spending assessment for local education authorities in England and Wales for the year 1990–91; and, for each element, if he will quantify the relevant sums he deems appropriate for expenditure by the London borough of Newham in that financial year.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe basis on which the education components of the standard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1990–91 for England and Wales are calculated is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) and the Welsh Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library. The sectoral elements of the London borough of Newham's SSA for education are as follows:
£ million Primary Education 352.81 Secondary Education 35.105 Post-16 Education 14.772 Under 5 Education 7.251 Other Education 6.101 Total Education 98.510
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any estimates of the amount by which Staffordshire county council would be required to reduce its education budget for 1990–91 if it were to spend at the level of its standard spending assessment for education; and whether he has made any assessment of the reductions in teaching staff and of spending on books at such a spending level.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt is for Staffordshire county council to reach its own conclusions on priorities within any particular level of spending.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any estimate of the reduction in teaching and non-teaching staffs and in non-pay items including school books and equipment which would be required if local education authorities in England brought their spending in 1990–91 to the level of their standard spending assessments for education.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt is for individual authorities to determine their own priorities for expenditure.