Written question asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 December 2003. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 December 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the money his Department spent on school places for children of service personnel was spent in the independent sector in each year since 1996; and what he estimates the proportion will be in 2003; what the average cost to his Department was of the school places provided for the children of service personnel in independent and private schools in each year since 1996. - Includes table and fact that not held in format requested.

Answer: Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of the money his Department spent on school places for children of service personnel was spent in the independent sector in each year since 1996; and what he estimates the proportion will be in 2003; [140563] (2) what the average cost to his Department was of the school places provided for the children of service personnel in independent and private schools in each year since 1996. [140564] Mr. Caplin: The information is not held in the format requested. The various annual rates of Service Education Allowances per child, from 1996 onwards are shown in the following table: Allowance (£) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Boarding Junior 5,943 6,243 6,507 7,314 7,554 8,034 8,700 9,525 Senior 7,050 7,407 7,707 8,649 9,216 10,146 11,166 12,060 Day Junior -- 3,606 3,954 4,263 4,482 4,797 5,163 5,742 Senior -- 4,578 4,845 5,550 5,871 6,375 6,900 7,494 Special Educational Needs -- -- -- -- 18,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 (SENA) SENA(Day) -- -- -- -- 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Junior rates are usually paid for Service children aged eight to 11. Senior rates are usually paid for Service children aged 11 to 18.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 415 c68W; 140563;140564
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Children Armed forces Costs Allowances Civil servants Dependants Education Government departments Private education Ministry of Defence
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk