§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assumption he made in setting the education standard spending assessment for each local education authority about the cost of the servicing and provision of school organisation committees in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [154150]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 16 March 2001]: The increases in Education Standard Spending for 2000–01 and 2001–02 were 5.4 per cent. and 4.8 per cent. respectively: these increases took account of the range of pressures that local education authorities and schools face, including the introduction of school organisation committees. The distribution of these increases among LEAs depends on the factors in the Standard Spending Assessment formula, such as pupil numbers, additional educational needs, and area costs. It is for each local education authority to decide how much of its increase it spends on school organisation committees, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
44WThe increases in Education Standard Spending are part of the substantial extra resources that the Government have been able to direct to local authorities. In the three years from 1997, funding per pupil has already increased by over £300 per pupil in real terms. 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 and 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.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of local education authorities which will meet their target allocation of advanced skills teachers. [154162]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 16 March 2001]: It is predominantly schools which are the driving force behind creating Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) posts, and which make AST appointments. All local education authorities have beet offered funding to meet the target numbers of AST posts in their areas in full. The
45WGovernment remain confident that over time ASTs will represent between 3 per cent. and 5 per cent. of the teaching workforce.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the public service agreements made with local education authorities and list the factors which each local education authority has identified as inhibiting the achievement of educational targets. [154157]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 16 March 2001]: Local Public Service Agreements have now been concluded with 14 authorities and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. The agreements set out the additional flexibilities we have agreed with the authorities to help them achieve their enhanced education targets. Negotiations are continuing with the six remaining authorities taking part in the pilot scheme of local Public Service Agreements. We expect to conclude agreements with these authorities soon.