§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what ring fenced grants were made available to local authorities in financial year 2001–02. [68290]
§ Mr. MilibandThe following table shows the Department's ring-fenced grants made available to local education authorities in 2001–02. These are specific grants ring-fenced for specific purpose or activities or special grants paid under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988
£000 Standards Fund 1,583,000 SA-tool Standards Grant 631,307 Education Budget Support Grant 52,394 Teachers Pay Grants 479,275 Nursery Education Grant 184,000 Education Maintenance Allowance 98,000 Childcare Grant 148,750 GM Transitional Grants 10,335 Education Action Zone Grant 62,615 Capital Grants 704,000 Note:
Figures are in cash terms.
The Government have simplified the operation of the Standards Fund, by far the largest specific grant for education. Since April 2001, schools have had more freedom to move funds between the different Standards Fund activities; separate auditing of the Standards Fund is no longer required; and the spending period for the Standards Fund was extended from 12 months to 17 months to give schools even more flexibility in planning expenditure. The School Standards Grant offers further freedom to schools.