HC Deb 30 March 1994 vol 240 c788W
Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was(a) the total money spent, (b) the percentage of that money allocated according to decisions made by Ministers on competitive bids and (c) the percentage of that money allocated according to some statistical measure of need in the last available operational year of the grants for education and training scheme.

Mr. Forth

The grants for education support and training programme for 1994–95 will support local education authority expenditure of £270.6 million, mainly at a grant rate of 60 per cent. Of this, £47.8 million—18 per cent.—was allocated on the basis of competitive bids from LEAs. All bids were carefully examined on their merits and each LEA's needs. The remaining £222.8 million was allocated by formula, but dependent on satisfactory bids from LEAs. All GEST grants are allocated subject to LEAs indicating their ability to take them up.