§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average level at current prices of state education expenditure per pupil in each of the regions of Great Britain in(a) 1979 and (b) 1997. [11197]
§ Mr. ByersThe average net institutional expenditure per pupil in 1997–98 prices in LEA-maintained schools, excluding special schools, in England was £1,388 in 1979–80 and £1,909 in 1995–96, the latest year for which data are available.
£ million 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 DfEE departmental expenditure Current 22.9 24.9 21.1 21.0 21.0 Capital 7.4 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 Employment Service expenditure Current 134.9 88.3 69.4 70.2 71.0 Capital 52.9 29.5 11.3 8.6 8.3 The current expenditure of both DfEE and the Employment Service include staff costs. The significant change in expenditure in the Employment Service from 1995–96 to 1996–97 reflects the introduction of JSA and the resultant changes in expenditure patterns.
Computer-related expenditure in schools is not reported separately. Since 1995–96 support for expenditure on information technology has been available through the school effectiveness component of the GEST programme. However, it is mainly for schools to determine how much to spend on information technology in the light of their own needs and priorities. In further education none of the funding provided by the Department is hypothecated to
128WInformation on expenditure per pupil in Scotland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales respectively.