§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in theOfficial Report for each regional council area (a) the total money allocated for the implementation of the five to 14 years curriculum and testing in (i) training of staff and (ii) introductory and closure day courses for staff and what were the full costs of full implementation, (b) the total money allocated to appoint development officers for five to 14 years development and for development planning and information technology officers and what were the estimated costs for full implementation, (c) how many and what percentage of head teachers will be granted additional 519W relief to cope with developments of the five to 14 years curriculum and testing and (d) what increase in per capita allowances for 1991–92 have been allocated per pupil.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 6 June 1991]: The cost of the five to 14 development programme has been met almost entirely by central Government, either directly or through support for work carried out by the primary assessment unit in the Scottish Examination Board, and by the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum and the colleges of education; expenditure on the programme in 1990–91 was over £2 million, and will be at the same level in the current year.
In addition specific grant is paid at a level of 75 per cent. against expenditure by authorities on in-service teacher training for the five to 14 programme.
Per capita allowances and other forms of support for individual schools are a matter for education authorities themselves; information on these is not held centrally.
General Government support to local authorities in the form of aggregate Exchequer finance was increased for 1991–92 by 10.5 per cent. over the level in the previous year.