§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each year since the Area Cost Adjustment was introduced the amount of standard spending assessment for each pupil in(a) Gloucestershire, (b) Oxfordshire and (c) Essex; and if he will make a statement on the reviews of ACA which have taken place or are currently taking place. [153387]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe table gives the data requested from when the SSA system began in 1990–91.
The Green Paper on the future of local authority funding makes it clear that we want to remove the worst of the disparities that exist, including those caused by the Area Cost Adjustment. Our aim is to level up not down. We will be working on this over the coming months, with the aim of moving Towards a new system in 2002–03.
The table shows that between 1997–98 and 2000–01, funding per pupil in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Essex has increased by well over £300 in real terms. There will be further increases at national level in funding following the Year 2000 Spending Review and the recent Budget announcement: a further £420 per pupil over the three-year period, taking the total increase to nearly £750 between 1997–98 and 2003–04. 739W
£ Gloucestershire SSA Grants Total Oxfordshire SSA Grants Total Essex SSA Grants Total 1993–94 2,120 — — 2,230 — — 2,260 — — 1994–95 2,140 — — 2,260 — — 2,330 — — 1995–96 2,110 — — 2,220 — — 2,280 — — 1996–97 2,190 — — 2,270 — — 2,360 — — 1997–98 2,250 20 2,270 2,320 40 2,350 2,400 20 2,420 1998–991 2,360 30 2,390 2,450 50 2,500 2,530 30 2,550 1999–2000 2,470 100 2,570 2,560 110 2,670 2,630 90 2,720 2000–01 2,580 230 2,800 2,690 210 2,900 2,760 190 2,950 2001–02 2,680 — — 2,840 — — 2,900 — — Real terms 1999–2000 prices 1990–91 2,250 — — 2,280 — — 2,310 — — 1991–92 2,420 — — 2,490 — — 2,510 — — 1992–93 2,490 — — 2,560 — — 2,620 — — 1993–94 2,470 — — 2,600 — — 2,640 — — 1994–95 2,460 — — 2,600 — — 2,670 — — 1995–96 2,360 — — 2,480 — — 2,550 — — 1996–97 2,380 — — 2,450 — — 2,560 — — 1997–98 2,370 30 2,390 2,440 40 2,480 2,520 20 2,540 1998–991 2,410 30 2,450 2,510 50 2,560 2,590 30 2,610 1999–2000 2,470 100 2,570 2,560 110 2,670 2,630 90 2,720 2000–01 2,530 220 2,760 2,640 210 2,850 2,710 190 2,900 2001–02 2,570 — — 2,720 — — 2,780 — — 1 Prior to the local government reorganisation in 1998–99, Essex included Southend on Sea and Thurrock. The figures for 1997–98 are based on an apportionment for Essex across the three constituent authorities Notes:
1. Comparable grant information is not available prior to 1997–98: all grants for 2001–02 have not yet been allocated
2. The SSA figures make no allowances for changes in SSA methodology since 1990–91
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10
4. Real term figures calculated using GDP deflators published by the Treasury 7 March 2001