HL Deb 02 April 1998 vol 588 c66WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What, in relation to meeting the "class size pledge" for 5, 6 and 7 year-olds, are:

  1. (a) the estimated revenue costs;
  2. (b) the estimated capital costs;
  3. (c) the estimated savings from abolition of the assisted places scheme;
  4. (d) the timescale over which the policy is to be achieved. [HL1186]

Baroness Blackstone

(a) The revenue cost of reducing infant class sizes in England over the three financial years from 1999–2000 to 2001–2002 has been estimated as:

£ million
1999–2000: 22
2000–2001: 60
2001–2002: 100

(b) The department has made no estimate of the capital cost. The Secretary of State announced on 19 March the provision made in the Budget for £40 million of additional funding for capital expenditure to enable LEAs to establish the new classrooms needed for more, smaller classes.

(c) The estimated savings made from the phasing out of the Assisted Places Scheme are:

£ million
1998–1999: 22
1999–2000: 61
2000–2001: 80
2001–2002: 100

(d) The class size pledge will be achieved by September 2001, but significant progress towards achieving it will be made from September 1998.