§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost to date of setting up the Learning Direct Service; what will be the budget allocation for learning direct in each of the next three years; and where the resources will come from. [61827]
§ Mr. MudieThe total cost to date of setting up and operating Learning Direct is £1 million in 1997–98 and estimated to be £3.3 million in 1998–99. The budget for 1999–2000 will be £6.3 million. We plan to announce the figures for the following two years in the Department for Education and Employment Report which is due to be published in the spring. Expenditure will be from a specific Learning Direct subhead.