HC Deb 11 March 1999 vol 327 cc318-9W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the funding for education in Staffordshire in 1999–2000; [75652]

(2) what assessment he has made of the current SSA formula for the distribution of education funding to shire authorities; [75653]

(3) if he will review the current SSA formula for funding education; [75654]

(4) what meetings he has had with Ministers at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss the review of the SSA formula for education. [75655]

Ms Estelle Morris

[holding answer 9 March 1999]: The education SSA for Staffordshire for 1999–2000 represents an underlying increase of £18.2 million or 6 per cent., after allowing for local authority changes of function. An increase on that scale should be sufficient to meet the pressures faced by Staffordshire schools, although my right hon. Friend appreciates the concern expressed by schools in Staffordshire and elsewhere about the fairness of the current education SSA system. In announcing the conclusions of the comprehensive Spending Review for the three years up to 2001–02, Ministers made it clear that they would not seek to change the current SSA system. It will, nevertheless, be subject to review. That will be led by DETR Ministers, and it will involve local government representation, and Ministers with local government service interests.

Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to take account of levels of turnover in pupil enrolments in setting local education authority standard spending assessments. [75751]

Ms Estelle Morris

[holding answer 9 March 1999]: None in the immediate future. In announcing the conclusions of the Comprehensive Spending Review for the three years up to 2001–02, Ministers made it clear that they would not seek to change the system of calculating standard spending assessments. It will, nevertheless, be subject to review. That will be led by DETR Ministers, and it will involve local government representation, and Ministers with local government service interests.