HC Deb 07 July 1994 vol 246 c319W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what help he intends to provide for teachers assessing key stage 1.

Mr. Robin Squire

My right hon. Friend has recently announced that he proposes, for 1995, to fund supply cover for teachers of seven-year-olds engaged on administering tests. This is in addition to the considerable amount of expenditure in support of the implementation of the assessment arrangements in schools—some £180 million —through the grants for education support and training programme over the last four years. A large proportion of this expenditure has been in primary schools.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to secure extra funding needed to pay the cost of using external examiners in the asessment of key stage 2 and key stage 3.

Mr. Robin Squire

It has not been the practice of this or previous Administrations to disclose details of discussions between Ministers. My right hon. Friend has found the necessary resources from within his Department's £7.5 billion vote programme.