§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of reducing all primary school class sizes to 30 or fewer pupils, over and above planned provision for smaller class sizes in certain primary school classes; and if he will make a statement. [74903]
§ Mr. HainThe cost of reducing all primary school classes to 30 or fewer pupils has not been estimated.
The Government have pledged to reduce the size of all infant classes to 30 pupils or fewer by 2001. In 1998–99, local education authorities (LEAs) in Wales received a total of £3.7m to assist with measures to reduce infant class sizes.
LEA bids for 1999–2000 for grant funding for revenue and capital measures to assist with infant class size reduction total £16.06m against available resources of £11.3m. Allocations will be announced shortly. A total of £23.5m in grant funding is included in forward plans for 2000–01 and 2001–02. Decisions on funding in those years will be a matter for the National Assembly.
LEAs and schools may employ a range of measures to achieve infant classes of 30 or fewer. Measures include employment of additional teachers; capital works; and changes in admissions arrangements, admissions numbers and class organisation within schools.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.