HC Deb 23 November 1994 vol 250 cc177-8W
Mr. Bryan Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has now given to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation report into discretionary awards provision; and what action he proposes to take in the light of its findings.

Mr. Boswell

The provision of discretionary awards is in the first instance a matter for local authorities.

Infirmity retirements Premature retirement
Financial year ended Gender Number retired Average pension1 £ Average lump sum1 Number retired Average pension2 £ Average lump sum2
31 March 1989 Male 1,241 5,704 17,085 6,313 6,213 18,552
Female 2,182 4,667 13,944 6,034 4,618 13,734
31 March 1990 Male 1,653 6,192 18,551 6,241 6,573 19,672
Female 2,539 5,134 15,357 6,051 4,983 14,845
31 March 1991 Male 1,821 6,530 19,735 5,669 6,993 20,938
Female 3,117 5,442 16,298 5,952 5,284 15,767
31 March 1992 Male 1,770 7,292 21,865 5,087 7,671 22,984
Female 2,890 5,978 17,916 5,175 5,712 17,074
31 March 1993 Male 1,960 8,181 24,542 6,364 8,392 25,108
Female 2,937 6,737 20,201 5,843 6,401 19,158
31 March 1994 Male 2,314 8,912 26,738 6,061 8,957 26,820
Female 3,235 7,174 21,518 6,170 6,630 19,861
1 Including the cost of enhancement.
2 Does not include cost of enhancement which is payable by, and at the discretion of, individual employers.

Note:

The table includes teachers in the maintained schools sector, further and higher education and certain independent schools.

Mr. Hain

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average annual cost of employing a physical education teacher.

Mr. Robin Squire

The Department's estimate of the average annual cost of employing a classroom teacher in England and Wales as at 1 April 1994 is around £23,800. It is not possible to estimate the average annual cost of employing teachers in specific subjects.

However, the Government are concerned by evidence in the Gulbenkian report that potential students' chances of obtaining discretionary award support depend increasingly on where they happen to live. My right hon. Friend and I have had a number of discussions with interested parties and are keeping the situation under review.