To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what financial contribution his Department and its predecessors made (a) directly and (b) indirectly to the Specialist Schools and Academic Trust in each financial year since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. (201124)

The DCSF funds SSAT through a range of grants and contracts to support the Specialist Schools and Academies Programmes and a range of other activities designed to raise pupil achievement. The total financial contribution made to SSAT over the last six years for which we have final information is: £2.395 million in 2001-02; £4.371 million in 2002-03; £11.326 million in 2003-04; £17.796 million in 2004-05; £24,350 million in 2005-06; and £35.152 million in 2006-07. Once accounts are finalised, we expect the contribution for 2007-08 will be in the region of £44 million. Within each grant and contract funded by the Department, a proportion of funding will cover the associated direct and indirect delivery costs, as appropriate for each programme.