House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 29 Mar 2004 (pt 13)

29 Mar 2004 : Column 1186W—continued

Education Funding

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average Government investment per student within (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) higher and (d) further education was in each of the last five years. [159428]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 10 March 2004]: The available information on funding per pupil or per student is shown in the table.

Funding per full-time equivalent pupil/student£

1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾ 2002–03⁽¹⁶⁾

Unit funding per FTE pupil

Primary (aged 3–10) 2,420 2,570 2,770 2,930 3,010

Secondary (aged 11–15) 3,260 3,370 3,620 3,810 3,900

Unit funding per FTE student

Further education (total funding) 3,420 3,650 3,850 4,000 4,020

Higher education 5,200 5,190 5,130 5,170 5,170

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾	2002–03⁽¹⁶⁾
Unit funding per FTE pupil
Primary (aged 3–10)	2,420	2,570	2,770	2,930	3,010
Secondary (aged 11–15)	3,260	3,370	3,620	3,810	3,900
Unit funding per FTE student
Further education (total funding)	3,420	3,650	3,850	4,000	4,020
Higher education	5,200	5,190	5,130	5,170	5,170

⁽¹⁵⁾ Provisional figure (FE)

⁽¹⁶⁾ Planned/provisional figures

Note:

Figures are in real terms adjusted to 2002–03 prices using June 2003 GDP deflators.

The FE and HE figures are consistent with those published in the "Statistics of Education, Education and Training Expenditure since 1993–94; Statistical Bulletin (04/03)". The primary and secondary figures differ from those in the bulletin in that they only include funding which can be apportioned to those sectors.

The basis of the figures in each case is set out in the Expenditure Bulletin. Next month, our departmental report for 2004 will be published and this will include updated tables for the unit funding for the schools, further and higher education sectors.

Further Education Colleges

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to discuss with the Learning and Skills Councils guidelines for dealing with further education colleges withdrawing provision in their areas. [162109]

Alan Johnson: Local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) work with providers to develop provision that meets the needs of learners, employers and the local community. This is part of the LSC's planning process. As part of this process, local LSC-led Strategic Area Reviews are taking place across the country to assess the pattern of provision in every local area and consider how it should be planned to ensure that local needs and priorities are met. Guidance on these reviews is set out in the LSC Circular 03/06—Strategic Area Reviews. A copy of which has been placed in the Library.

In addition, officials from the Department, the LSC and the Association of Colleges will be considering jointly whether further guidance is needed on the respective roles, responsibilities and powers of the Department, National and local LSCs and colleges in the relation to the provision of education and training post-16 in a local area, including decisions about reshaping or withdrawing it.

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students leaving each further education college in London in each of the last five years left without a qualification. [163521]

29 Mar 2004 : Column 1187W

Alan Johnson: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Kids Club Network (Funding)

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Government funding has been provided to the Kids' Club Network 4 Children, in each of the last three years for which information is available. [162198]

Margaret Hodge: Over the past three years, 4 Children formerly Kids' Clubs Network has received the following funding:

(£000)

Department for Education and Skills Phoenix Fund (DTI)

To 31 March 2001 303,144 22,700

To 31 March 2002 593,260 48,546

To 31 March 2003 1,031,124 39,810

Sport England income

2000–01 30,000

2001–02 66,504

2002–03 128,118

	Department for Education and Skills	Phoenix Fund (DTI)
To 31 March 2001	303,144	22,700
To 31 March 2002	593,260	48,546
To 31 March 2003	1,031,124	39,810
Sport England income
2000–01	30,000
2001–02	66,504
2002–03	128,118

4 Children was also responsible for administering payments totalling an additional £1,028,344 on behalf of Sport England in 2001–2002.

Department of Health

£000

2000–01 0

2001–02 30,000

2002–03 0

	£000
2000–01	0
2001–02	30,000
2002–03	0

Local Government Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he gives to local education authorities on the sources of funds or budgets they should use to make up for the cut in the Standards Fund in order to continue school drug adviser posts; and if he will make a statement. [163994]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: The cessation of the Standards Fund Grant for drug prevention was announced in December 2002. Since then, the Department has advised local education authorities (LEAs) and schools to fund support for drug education out of the total resources available to them. It is up to individual LEAs to decide whether this support includes the provision of school drug advisors.

Mature Students

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students in (a) the North East of England, (b) England and Wales and (c) UK universities have been mature students in each of the last 15 years. [150627]

Alan Johnson: The proportions of undergraduate enrolments from mature students are given in the table.

29 Mar 2004 : Column 1188W

Proportion of undergraduate enrolments who were mature students by location of HE institution

Percentage

Academic Year North East⁽¹⁷⁾ ^, ⁽¹⁸⁾ England and Wales⁽¹⁷⁾ GB

1988–89 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 56

1989–90 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 56

1990–91 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 56

1991–92 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 56

1992–93 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 57

1993–94 ⁽¹⁹⁾— n/a 58

1994–95 52 61 60

1995–96 55 63 62

1996–97 57 63 62

1997–98 55 62 61

1998–99 53 61 60

1999–2000 53 60 59

2000–01 55 60 59

2001–02 54 60 60

2002–03 55 61 60

	Percentage
Academic Year	North East⁽¹⁷⁾ ^, ⁽¹⁸⁾	England and Wales⁽¹⁷⁾	GB
1988–89	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	56
1989–90	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	56
1990–91	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	56
1991–92	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	56
1992–93	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	57
1993–94	⁽¹⁹⁾—	n/a	58
1994–95	52	61	60
1995–96	55	63	62
1996–97	57	63	62
1997–98	55	62	61
1998–99	53	61	60
1999–2000	53	60	59
2000–01	55	60	59
2001–02	54	60	60
2002–03	55	61	60

⁽¹⁷⁾ Data are not available for English and Welsh institutions and North East Institutions for years prior to 1993–94

⁽¹⁸⁾ Figures for North East institutions for 1994–95 and 1995–96 do not include those studying HE in FE institutions as the data is not available.

⁽¹⁹⁾ Not available

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency, Learning Skills Council, Universities Statistical Record.

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will rank universities by their proportion of mature students in (a) the North East of England, (b) England and Wales and (c) the UK. [150628]

Alan Johnson: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

National Childcare Strategy (Burton)

Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy in the Burton constituency; and if he will make a statement. [161851]

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of new childcare places created in an individual constituency is available only from 1999. Staffordshire local authority reported that between April 1999 and December 2003, the latest date for which information is currently available, 1,498 new childcare places opened in Burton constituency. A place typically helps more than one child, as not all children take up places full-time, and we estimate these places will help some 2,800 children. During the same period, Staffordshire reported that 315 childcare places closed in Burton, so that the stock of childcare places rose by 1,183 helping some 2,300 children.

Pre-school Education (Crosby)

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free (a) nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Crosby in each of the last seven years. [160399]

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.

29 Mar 2004 : Column 1189W

Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year olds in Sefton local education authority area are shown in the table.

The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsqateway/.

By April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.

Number of free nursery education places ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ taken up by three and four year old children Sefton Local Education Authority area1997–2003 Position in January each year

Three year olds Four year olds

1997 2,100 3,200

1998 2,000 3,300

1999 2,100 3,200

2000 2,400 3,100

2001 2,900 3,200

2002 2,700 3,200

2003 2,700 3,000

	Three year olds	Four year olds
1997	2,100	3,200
1998	2,000	3,300
1999	2,100	3,200
2000	2,400	3,100
2001	2,900	3,200
2002	2,700	3,200
2003	2,700	3,000

1. Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year old children.

2. A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.

3. Maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers.

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