Written question asked by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 December 2002. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 December 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what extra grant he has made available to schools for laboratory technicians. - Includes figures.

Answer: Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what extra grant he has made available to schools for laboratory technicians. [84755] Mr. Miliband: In 2003-04 we are making available to local education authorities, through Standards Fund Grant, £268 million to cover the costs of recruiting extra school support staff and extra administrative help, particularly for small schools, and £37.45 million for the training and development of support staff. This additional funding should contribute significantly to the transformation of the school workforce, of which school science laboratory technicians, as well as many others who work to support teachers in the classroom, are vital members. We estimate that, during this Parliament, schools should have the capacity to recruit at least an extra 50,000 full-time equivalent support staff, including science technicians. In addition, the new National Network of Science Learning Centres will provide training and professional development opportunities for technicians.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 84755; 396 c243W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Finance Grants Recruitment Non-teaching staff Schools Laboratories Technicians
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk