HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1490-1W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in Surrey were eligible for the higher salaries scale payable only to experienced teachers in each of the last four years. [139821]

Mr. Miliband

The number of teachers assessed as passing the threshold in Surrey is:

  • September 2000 = 2940;
  • September 2001 = 542; and
  • September 2002 = 743.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many newly qualified teachers employed in(a) Surrey, (b) Kent, (c) Sussex and (d) Hampshire in the last 12 months have started on Scale 4 level salaries. [139825]

Mr. Miliband

The information is not available centrally.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the costs of higher salaries for experienced teachers has been met by central Government in Surrey, in each of the last four years for which figures are available. [139820]

Mr. Miliband

Experienced eligible teachers have been able to apply for "threshold" payments since September 2000 and these are fully funded by central Government. Such teachers may also make further progress along the "upper pay scale" and there are substantial grants to assist this, totalling some £175 million in 2003–04.