§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many departmental publications are in storage; and where they are located. [183864]
§ Dr. HowellsThe majority of Departmental publications are stored on sites managed by Prolog—the Department's storage and mailing contractor. There are currently 5,320 titles in storage, the majority of which are located in Nottingham.
The range of publications stored includes materials to support teaching staff in the delivery of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, former Department of Health publications that transferred to this Department as a result the Machinery of Government changes announced in June 2003 and titles in alternative formats, including ethnic languages, Braille, audio tape and large print.
We are working towards reducing the number of publications in storage. The Department has recently taken forward a programme of stock rationalisation in which overstocked and obsolete products were identified and recycled. We have also introduced a 'print on demand' facility, whereby low turnover items are stored electronically and only printed when requested.
Furthermore, we are in the process of rolling out an online ordering system for schools which allows head teachers to access print materials electronically and order them in the multiples they need when they need them.
1696WSfor areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings will receive a higher level of funding per pupil.