§ Mr. SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that local education authorities are able to provide the necessary matched funding to enable schools to take advantage of money provided through the standards fund. [117648]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe requirement for local education authorities to contribute to the Standards Fund was allowed for in the 5.4 per cent. increase in education Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) for 2000–01. Most authorities have accepted in full the Standards Fund grants. In addition, Northamptonshire's schools will receive over £4 million as its share of the £290 million funding increase announced in the budget: from £3,000 for the smallest primary school, to £50,000 for the largest secondary school, to use as they see fit to drive up standards further. They will also benefit from their share of the £50 million extra in grant which we announced in November for general support of school budgets.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to have transferred to his Department from the DETR, funding arrangements for schools in England; and if he will make a statement; [119686]
(2) what plans he has to fund schools directly from his Department; and if he will make a statement. [119685]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Government intend to issue a Green Paper in the summer which will address the future funding of local authorities, including options for the funding of education.