§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the level of the standard spending assessment per pupil in Somerset to the average such figure for England; and if she will make a statement. [66273]
§ Mr. MilibandWe intend to commence consultation on detailed options for a new education funding system shortly, which will run over the summer. We will take decisions in time for the local government finance settlement and implement the new system in 2003–04. At this stage it is not possible to say how individual authorities will be affected by the new system.