§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effect which the Government's decision to cut section 11 funding will have on the education of children for whom English is a second language.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe assessment of local pupil needs is primarily a matter for schools and local education authorities although the Department continues to monitor, using the services of OFSTED, the education of children for whom English is a second language. Section 11 funding in 1993–94 should be sufficient to support existing projects in the 1993–94 financial year at the current grant rate of 75 per cent. of salary costs. For the subsequent two years, it will be a matter for local authorities and other grant recipients to decide to what extent the shortfall can be offset from within their budgets and where any reductions need to be made.