§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effects of the 1999–2000 revenue support grant on the provision of education services in Cumbria. [72703]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe have increased Cumbria's education SSA for 1999–2000 by well over £9 million which should help raise standards. My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from Cumbria schools welcoming the education SSA increase, but criticising Cumbria County Council's budget plans. We expect all Local Education Authorities, including Cumbria, to use all of the education SSA increase to support education services, especially schools.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons Cumbria was not included with other local authorities when allocating nursery funding for three years olds in 1999–2000. [72724]
§ Ms HodgeIn 1999–2000 the additional funding for early education for three-year-olds has been distributed between the fifty authorities with the highest levels of social need assessed by the Government's Index of Local Deprivation augmented by measures of low birth weight and births to teenage mothers. Funding will be distributed across all authorities from April 2000.