HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc227-8W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on schools budgets in 2003–04 in relation to teaching staff. [114868]

Mr. Miliband

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House on 15 May 2003 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. It is now for local authorities and schools to consider the implications for school budgets including teaching staff.

Mr. Lepper

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding was per pupil in the Brighton and Hove LEA in each year since 1996–97. [114697]

Mr. Miliband

The table shows total funding per pupil in Brighton and Hove since 1997–98. The local government reorganisation means that data for 1996–97 does not conform to current boundaries so comparable figures are not available.

Brighton and Hove LEA
£
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
2,630 2,750 2,920 3,190 3,420 3,610 3,770

Notes:

1. Figures reflect education SSA/EFS settlement (all sub-blocks) plus revenue grants in DfES departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EPS pupils aged 3 to 19.

2. Figures exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level for all years and the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC for 2003–04.

3. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3 yos maintained pupils and estimated 3–4 yos funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

4. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to local government reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.

5. 2003–04 figures are forecasts.

6. Figures are in cash term and rounded to the nearest £10.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact on secondary school budgets of the new system of funding sixth forms via learning and skills councils; and if he will make a statement. [115438]

Margaret Hodge

For the academic year 2003/03, the LSC has allocated £1.418 billion to LEAs for school sixth form and post-16 Special Education Needs provision within agreed timescales. In this, the first year of LSC funding, 67 per cent. of all sixth forms are on the new LSC formula at funding rates higher than historical levels of funding. The remaining schools, previously on more generous levels of funding, are protected by our Real Terms Guarantee to ensure funding is maintained in real terms at historic levels, provided pupil numbers are maintained. The LSC has been responsive to the higher than expected growth in pupil numbers and higher than expected pupil retention in school sixth forms in 2002/03. The figure above includes additional sums to those originally planned, which the LSC has now allocated to school sixth form funding for 2002/03. Our assessment of the impact of the new LSC funding system on secondary schools with sixth forms is that it has been beneficial in ensuring that funding levels are protected or increased in real terms, and that successful school sixth forms are rewarded.