HC Deb 09 March 1994 vol 239 cc232-3W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure by each local education authority in respect of classes in prisons, detention centres or community homes with education for each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Payments made to local education authorities for the provision of education in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales since 1 April 1989 are as follows:

£ million
1989–90 20.2
1990–91 24.1
1991–92 26.0
1992–93 28.2
1993–94 18.6
1 Estimated.

The payments in 1993–94 reflect the changeover this year to direct provision through further education colleges and other providers, rather than through local education authorities, consequent upon the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Expenditure on education classes in community homes falls within the departmental responsibilities of the Department of the Environment. Details of such expenditure, and of payments made to individual local education authorities, are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.