HC Deb 21 June 1995 vol 262 cc318-9W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of identifiable Government expenditure on education in Scotland, including mandatory loans and awards to students, is devoted to(a) primary education, (b) secondary education, (c) further education and (d) higher education; and if he will make a statement. [29043]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Identifiable Government expenditure on education in Scotland in 1993–94 was £3,644 million. That includes expenditure by the Secretary of State directly and by local authorities, and was divided as follows:

Per cent
Primary 30.0
Secondary 34.1
Further 7.7
Higher 22.8

The following points are relevant to interpretation of these figures:

  1. 1. The percentages do not total to 100 as other items of education expenditure—principally nursery and community education and the careers service—are excluded.
  2. 2. The figure of £3,758 million for identifiable Government expenditure on education in 1993–94 included in table 7.6A of Cm 2821—Public Expenditure: Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96—also includes expenditure on recreation and leisure, sport and Gaelic broadcasting.
  3. 3. Pupils began secondary education in Scotland at age 12.
  4. 4. Further education expenditure includes bursaries paid by local authorities.
  5. 5. Higher education expenditure includes the costs of grants—paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland—and of student loans received by all Scottish domiciled students undertaking higher education courses. It does not include expenditure on awards or loans for students who are domiciled elsewhere in the United Kingdom but are undertaking courses in Scotland.
  6. 6. Some higher education courses are provided at further education colleges; further education courses may also be provided at higher education institutions. The costs of these cannot readily be separately identified and are attributed to the sector of provision.