HC Deb 09 July 2001 vol 371 c391W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is in their first year of operation for teachers' threshold payments; and how much has been spent on the preparation and implementation of and training for the scheme(a) from her Department's budget and (b) from other public education budgets. [2928]

Mr. Timms

To the end of June 2001, the Department has paid about £350 million to local authorities to cover the additional salary costs of teachers passing the threshold. The Department has a contract with Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) for the provision and deployment of threshold assessors and external advisers to governing bodies on heads' performance. It also has a contract with the Centre for British Teachers (CfBT) for training in threshold assessment and performance management. The value of these contracts depends on the volume and quality of activity. To June 2001 we estimate that total CEA contract costs have been about £22 million-£24 million and CfBT contract costs about £12 million-£14 million.

The Standards Fund for 2000–01 provided £40 million to help schools introduce performance management and threshold assessment. £32 million of this came from the Department and the rest from local education authorities. £28 million is available through the Standards Fund for 2001–02 to help schools operate performance management and threshold assessment. This is 100 per cent. funded by the Department.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received in respect of the legality of departmental regulations allowing school governors to use teacher appraisal results to establish pay levels. [3109]

Mr. Timms

The National Union of Teachers has suggested in response to consultation that the proposed regulations contain provisions in relation to appraisal results and pay determination which are outside the Secretary of State's powers in relation to these regulations.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she will take to make regulations allowing governors to use teacher appraisal results to set pay levels. [3110]

Mr. Timms

The Secretary of State is satisfied that the provision permitting appraisal results to be taken into account in the exercise of pay discretions, which has been in regulations governing teachers' appraisal since 1991, is within the law.