HC Deb 29 April 2002 vol 384 cc569-70W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much money in total she estimates schools and colleges will pay in additional employers' national insurance contributions in 2003–04; [52515]

(2) whether LEAs will receive additional budget provisions for 2003–04 to cover the cost of increased employers' national insurance contributions; [52516]

(3) how much additional cost on average she expects secondary schools to incur in 2003–04 as a result of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions; [52518]

(4) what she estimates to be the total increased national insurance bill for an average primary school in England in 2003–04; [52519]

(5) how much additional funding colleges of further education will require in 2003–04 to offset the additional cost of employers' national insurance contributions. [52525]

Mr. Timms

The additional cost in employers' national insurance contributions in 2003–04 for all English colleges (including sixth form colleges) providing further education is estimated to be about £25 million. This cost will be considered alongside other priorities and pressures in the 2002 spending review. The costs to schools will be in the region of £4k for the average primary school and £20k for the average secondary school. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question from the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 24 April 2002,Official Report, column 311W.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what she estimates will be the total cost of employers' national insurance contributions met(a) directly and (b) indirectly from her Department's budget in this financial year. [52529]

Estelle Morris

The total amount of employers' national insurance contributions paid directly by the Department for Education and Skills in respect of central administration for the year 2002–03 is estimated to be £7 million.

Employers' national insurance contributions are paid indirectly by the Department for Education and Skills plus the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions through the funding of education and training providers. Data regarding the total amount of national insurance contributions paid are not held centrally. Using available data, we estimate the cost will be £3,000 million for 2002–03.