To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2007, Official Report, column 1488W, on consultants, what the total cost was of hiring the consultants to whom he refers; and what the estimated number of regular viewers of Teachers’ TV was in 2006. (120218)

Teachers’ TV aims to help raise standards in classrooms by helping to share good practice, support continuing professional development, offer classroom resources, and provide education news and information. The channel's target audience includes teachers, school leaders, teaching assistants and school governors.

Two individual consultants were used by Teachers' TV on specialist projects during 2006. They provided a total of 35 days’ input to the channel at a cost of £12,250.

Viewing of the channel among the schools work force is measured by an independent market research company, Ipsos MORI. The results of their study for the school year which ended on 31 July 2006 show that Teachers' TV was viewed by an average of 94,000 members of the schools work force each month.