To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what expenditure on schools was as a proportion of gross domestic product in each year since 1997; what estimate he has made of the likely proportion in each year until 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. (163442)

The Department is unable to answer the question in the way it has been asked. The information is not held on a UK basis. However, spending on education in England is set to rise to £63.7 million in 2007-08. The Government will increase spending in education as a proportion of GDP to 5.6 per cent. in 2010-11. This compares to 4.7 per cent. of GDP spent on education in 1996-97.