§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff were employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit of his Department on 31 March; what the budget was of that unit in 1998 –99; and what budget has been set for the unit in 1999 –2000. [82015]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 26 April 1999]: The number of staff employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit on 31 March was 148. The budget for the Unit in 1998 –99 was £4.8 million; the budget for 1999 –2000 is £5.9 million. A significant part of the increase in the budget is due to the transfer of four teams covering specialist schools in September 1999. The complement of staff in the SEU is drawn mainly from existing Civil Servants together with a small number of external practitioners, including heads and inspectors, appointed to bring the benefit of their experience to the Department.