§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) by what amount the Children's Fund was over-committed in financial year 2003–04; [155634]
(2) how much he estimates the Children's Fund will be over-committed in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; [155635]
(3) how much money has been saved by reductions to the (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 allocations to the Children's Fund. [155636]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Children's Fund was over-committed by £14.6 million in 2003–04 on an allocation of £150 million. It had a projected over-commitment of the same amount for 2004–05 and 2005–06.
We have not made cuts to the Children's Fund in 2004–05 and 2005–06, indeed I expect to have spent more than the £450 million set aside for the Children's Fund by the end of 2005–06. Following discussions with the Children's Fund advisory forum of key stakeholders in the programme, we have agreed revised allocations to partnerships for 2004–05, together with a package of flexibilities that will ensure that the programme lives within its financial limits while honouring its commitments. We will be having a comprehensive dialogue about 2005–06 with partnerships and key 891W partners in the programme over the next few weeks, with final decisions to be taken in autumn 2004 informed by that dialogue and the outcome of the Spending Review.