HC Deb 13 July 1998 vol 316 cc3-4W
Mr. John Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional costs are incurred within London in the provision of (a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education; and what allowance he makes for this in his Department's funding of such provision. [49418]

Mr. Raynsford

In 1996–97, net current expenditure by authorities in London on the provision of nursery, primary and secondary education, and the corresponding figures for spending by authorities elsewhere in England was as shown in the following table.

Authorities in London Authorities elsewhere in England
Nursery and primary education £1,362 million £6,680 million
Secondary education £800 million £5,540 million
Special education £250 million £1,090 million
Total per pupil £2,879 £2,385

Notes:

  1. 1. Nursery and primary education cannot be separately distinguished
  2. 2. Expenditure on special education cannot be divided between nursery, primary and secondary education
  3. 3. Expenditure per pupil cannot be calculated for each category, because numbers are not split. The pupil number used relates to the total number of pupils aged 5–15 in education as at January 1997.

Different levels of expenditure may reflect variations in service and performance across Local Authorities, not just in costs.

The need for expenditure by local authorities on nursery, primary and secondary education (including special education) is taken into account in the calculation of the corresponding elements of the standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant entitlements. The formula used to determine the amount for each local authority is given in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998/99 (HC506).