HC Deb 31 March 1995 vol 257 cc817-8W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the cost of the production and distribution of (i) the updated parents charter, 1994; (ii) the special educational needs information, 1994; (iii) the school governors' guides to the law, 1994; (iv) the private finance initiative, 1994; (v) the national school tests, 1993, 1994 and 1995, information leaflet; and (vi) the grant-maintained schools information, 1993 to 1995. [17107]

Mr. Forth

The costs in the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 of production and distribution were as follows:

£000
Parents Charter (1994) 3,073
Special Educational Needs Information (1994) 1,137
School Governors' Guides to the Law (1994) 300
Private Finance Initiative 119
National School Test (1993, 1994 and 1995) 1673
1 Estimated.

The estimated cost of the campaign on grant-maintained schools information in 1993–94 and 1994–95 is some £1.922 million. This includes the cost of press advertising, a video and a series of regional conferences.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the budget for the "Schools Update", 1993 to 1995, publication.

Mr. Forth

"Schools Update" is the Department's termly newsletter for school teachers and governors. Over the last two years, costs of producing and distributing copies are as follows:

Financial year £
1993–94 169,000
1994–95 1219,000
1 Estimated.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many responses she has had to the information booklet on the private finance initiative, 1994. [17108]

Mr. Forth

The booklet "Education Means Business" was published as part of a wider strategy to promote the private finance initiative in education. Although it is difficult to separate the impact of the publication from other aspects of the initiative, about 2,000 inquiries have been received within the Department specifically referring to the booklet.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 17 March,Official Report, columns 732–34, what estimate she has made of the individual or combined cost of the campaigns and publications (a) DFE summer roadshow, (b) European choice booklet, (c) grant-maintained schools information and (d) the updated parents charter. [17297]

Mr. Forth

[holding answer 30 March 1995]: In the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95, the combined cost of these campaigns and publications is estimated at £5.616 million.