HC Deb 09 December 1991 vol 200 cc297-8W
Mr. Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what allowances in cash terms has been made for the additional costs in 1992–93 of implementing Government legislation for the(a) Education Reform Act, national curriculum and local management of schools, (b) introducing a regular programme of teacher appraisal, (c) vocational training arising from the introduction of non-vocational qualifications, and (d) additional education welfare officers required to cope with education supervision orders arising from the Children Act 1989;

(2) what allowance in cash terms has been made for further additional costs in 1992–93 to reflect (a) additional teachers for the projected increase in primary and secondary pupil numbers, (b) non-teaching staff, books, equipment, and home-to-school transport for these additional pupils, (c) additional lecturers and associated running costs due to the projected increase in student numbers in higher and further education, (d) the 2.2 per cent. increase in discretionary awards to reflect the projected increase in the number of further education students, (e) increased maintenance of school buildings, (f) increases in number of statemented pupils and pupils with special educational needs, (g) salary increments and incentive allowances and (h) commitments on capital projects.

Mr. Eggar

The 1992–93 RSG settlement allows for local authorities in England to spend £18,730 million on education, some £1,245 million or 7.1 per cent. more than allowed for in this year's RSG settlement. In setting the total of £18,730 million, the Government have taken general account of demographic and other pressures on the service and of the scope for making savings and re-deploying spending to meet new priorities. Within the settlement, the Government are providing specific grant support to help implement their reforms through the combined programme of education support grants and LEA training grants. This will support £377 million earmarked expenditure in 1992–93, including £176 million on implementation of the national curriculum; £82.5 million on school management, including local management of schools, and teacher appraisal; and £10 million on training for NVQs in further education and to help schools and sixth form colleges offer vocational qualifications post-16.