§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the level of expenditure on education by local government area for each of the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99, expressed in real terms at 1997–98 prices. [72758]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe requested information has been placed in the Library of the House.
The information available on education expenditure by local government area relates to expenditure by local authorities. The changes in responsibility of local education authorities, reorganisation and concomitant boundary changes, means that expenditure by local authorities on education may not be directly comparable across the years in question. In particular, net current expenditure on education in 1997–98 did not include expenditure on the under five's education which was financed by the nursery voucher scheme. This produces, for most authorities, an apparent 'trough' in expenditure in that year. In addition, the level of expenditure on education by an authority across the years will be affected by changing pupil numbers.
The all-England totals in £ million not including capital expenditure Year 1997–98 prices 1995–96 20,991 1996–97 20,811 1997–98 20,625 1998–99 21,334