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14 Jul 2004 : Column 1218W—continued
Private Finance Initiative
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what contingency plans his Department has in place should a major contractor under a private finance initiative schools contract become bankrupt or otherwise unable to maintain its contractual obligations; and if he will make a statement. [183009]
Mr. Miliband: Most PFI deals involve stand-alone special purpose vehicles (SPVs) with other investors and contractors, plus bank financing. It is a usual feature of PFI projects that the banks have the opportunity to step in and find a new contractor in the event of insolvency and we would expect the banks to do this. My Department is not party to schools PFI contracts; these are between the local authority and the relevant consortium. Officials are ready to assist and advise local authorities if this should prove necessary.
Pupil Funding
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he expects the per pupil funding level to be for (a) schools, (b) sixth forms and (c) further education colleges in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills council region in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2006–06 and (iii) 2006–07. [182338]
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Mr. Miliband: The total funding per pupil for schools in cash terms for 2004–05 in the Greater Manchester LSC area is £3,960.
The Further Education funding system is different from schools. Funding is paid for learning aims as well as an entitlement per 16–18 payment. Under the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC's) funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels in a sixth form college and a further education college to a student in the 2004–05 academic year will be £3,045. This figure comprises £766 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, and £747 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme. Under the LSC's funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels to a student at an English maintained secondary school will be £3,212. This figure comprises £785 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, £750 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme, and £107 for each student to meet additional employers1 contributions to teachers1 pensions.
These figures do not represent all funding that colleges and sixth forms receive and are not directly comparable. For example the further education funding rates include consolidated funds for pay and staff training that are not reflected in the school sixth form rates. Also, in each case additional funding may also be available to take account of the higher costs of delivering learning in particular geographical areas, in higher cost subjects, or to students with particular disadvantages or individual needs.
The LSC has yet to publish its rates for 2005–06 and 2006–07 is yet to be announced.
Notes:
1. 2004–05 figures are provisional estimates as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited and will be changing in the near future so please pass on this warning.
2. Figures reflect education Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending settlement (all sub-blocks). Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES
departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to Education Formula Spending pupils aged 3 to19.
3. Figures exclude Education Maintenance Allowances and grants not allocated at LEA level
4. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending settlement calculations plus PLASC three year olds maintained pupils and estimated three to four year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the Standard Spending Assessment pupil numbers.
5. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10 so may not sum.
Pupil Referral Units
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2004, Official Report, column 785W, on pupil referral units, for what reasons the separate identification of costs of pupil referral units ended in 2002–03; and what the costs of pupil referral units were for (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 as set out in the s52 returns of local education authorities. [179588]
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Mr. Miliband [holding answer 21 June 2004]: The way in which the Department collected s52 outturn data changed fundamentally in the 2002–03 financial year to align with the Consistent Financial Reporting Framework.
Local authority and other interests were fully consulted on the change. The costs of pupil referral units for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are contained in the following table:
Notes:
1. The financial data are taken from local education authorities' Section 52 Outturn Statements (Table 1) submitted to the DfES.
2. Includes all expenditure on the provision of education at Pupil Referral Units (as defined in section 19 of the Education Act 1996).
3. Includes all School Standards Grant income and expenditure in relation to Pupil Referral Units.
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