§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his policy that the weighting factors in the standard spending assessments in respect of education are a reflection of his educational policies and priorities.
§ Mr. Robin SquireNo. Since education standard spending assessments are not prescriptive the weighting factors within them reflect the latest available objective information about relative variations in the cost incurred by local education authorities in providing a standard level of service.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the factors taken into account in setting the standard spending assessments for education spending.
§ Mr. Robin SquireEach local education authority's standard spending assessment is calculated on the basis of566W its relevant pupil and population numbers, adjusted to allow for local variations in the cost of providing a standard level of service. Adjustments are made to reflect the additional local costs of provision for pupils with additional educational needs, provision of education in sparsely populated areas, free school meals and the high labour and other costs in London and the south east.