HC Deb 22 October 2001 vol 373 cc36-7W
Mr. Frisk

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans she has to review the funding formula for sixth-forms to reflect local needs;[8166]

(2) if she will make a statement on the rejection of the area cost adjustment formula for funding school sixth-forms;[8168]

(3) what steps her Department is taking to ensure no school will lose funding when the Learning and Skills Council assumes control of sixth-form resources.[8167]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many separate funding streams are available to secondary schools with sixth-forms; and if she will make a statement.[8981]

Mr. Timms

All maintained schools, including schools with sixth-forms, receive almost all their public funding from their local education authority. The bulk of such funding—including support from the school standards grant—is delegated to a school through the authority's fair funding scheme. Schools also receive funding, via their local education authority, under the standards fund, and the teachers threshold pay grant. Individual schools may also receive support from a wide range of other sources, including the national lottery, and private sector contributions.

From 2002–03, funding for school sixth-forms will be allocated to local education authorities by the Learning and Skills Council. Schools with sixth-forms will continue to receive this funding through their local education authority's fair funding scheme.