§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the average per pupil education standard spending assessment for 2000–01 in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) Somerset; what is the reason for the difference between (i) and (ii); and if he will make a statement; [121235]
(2) if he will estimate the additional cash which would be available for education in Somerset if the average per pupil standard spending assessment for primary and secondary schools in Somerset was the same as the average for England; and if he will make a statement. [121221]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 10 May 2000]: The following table shows for 2000–01 education SSA per primary and secondary pupil for Somerset and England.
£ SSA Somerset England Difference Primary per pupil 2,310 2,474 164 Secondary per pupil 2,984 3,175 191 The differences between the figures for England and those for Somerset are a result of the authority receiving a below average share of the national total for education standard spending to reflect social deprivation and area costs. If Somerset's SSA per pupil for primary and secondary schools were the same as the national average it is estimated that its education SSA would be £11 million higher. Since 1997–98 Somerset's education SSA per pupil has increased by £338, and its special and specific grants per pupil have increased by £193.
509WSomerset will benefit this year from Standards Fund grant of £8.8 million. Its share of the £50 million and £290 million special grants will be £3 million.