§ 20. Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money will be paid in direct grants to schools over the next three years. [132606]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisIt is estimated that schools will be paid almost £1.7 billion in direct grants over the next three years. £545 million in 2001–02, with year-on-year increases of 2.75 per cent. in each of the following two years. Since 1997, funding per pupil has increased by over £300 per pupil (to some £3,100 per pupil this year). Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the year 2000 spending review: a further £370 per pupil over the three-year period, taking the total increase to nearly £700 between 1997–98 and 2003–04.