HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc197-8W
Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the average expenditure per pupil in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in(a) Halton and (b) Cheshire local education authorities in (1) 1997–98, (2) 1998–99 and (3) 1999–2000; and what the amount is for 2000–01. [148847]

Ms Estelle Morris

[holding answer 14 February 2001]: The following table sets out the overall resources per pupil made available to Halton and Cheshire local education authorities for compulsory primary and secondary education, in both cash and real terms.

Standard spending assessment and special/specific grants 1
£ per pupil
Primary (5–10) (cash) Secondary (11–15) (cash) Primary (5–10) (real terms) Secondary (11–15) (real terms)
Halton
1997–982 2,160 2,840 2,320 3,050
1998–99 2,280 2,980 2,380 3,110
1999–2000 2,480 3,130 2,530 3,200
2000–01 2,780 3,430 2,780 3,430
Cheshire
1997–982 1,990 2,570 2,140 2,760
1998–99 2,100 2,700 2,190 2,810
1999–2000 2,280 2,840 2,330 2,890
2000–01 2,480 3,050 2,480 3,050
1 Rounded to nearest £10
2 Notional figures assuming an apportionment, in accordance with post April 1998 local government re-organisation

Under this Government, funding per pupil has already increased by over £300 nationally in real terms, and it will increase by a further £150 per pupil for 2001–02. 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. The following table shows the average net institutional expenditure per pupil in pre-primary/primary and secondary schools in Halton and Cheshire, for the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99, the latest year for which this information is currently available. These figures are not comparable with the funding figures above. They cover school based outturn expenditure, but not the cost of meals, or of centrally run activities such as home to school transport and certain special educational needs services.

Halton local education authority became a local education authority from April 1998. The figures shown here for 1997–98 are for Cheshire prior to the reorganisation.

£ (cash)
1997–981 1998–991
Halton
Pre-primary/primary 1,870
Secondary 2,490
Cheshire
Pre-primary/primary 1,710 1,770
Secondary 2,320 2,360
1 Rounded to the nearest £10