Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are putting in place to encourage local authorities to spend their Education Services Grants on providing music lessons in schools; and what steps they are taking to safeguard the National Plan for Music Education.

The Education Services Grant is an unringfenced grant and it is entirely at the discretion of local authorities how funding is spent. Different local authorities will make different choices based on local decisions about their priorities.

The Government remains fully committed to the National Plan for Music Education.

In July we announced a further £18 million for 2015-16 for music education; of which a minimum of £17 million will go to the 123 music education hubs, the most crucial feature of the Plan’s implementation.

Hubs are working to improve the quality and consistency of music education across the country. They provide core roles designed to ensure every child aged 5-18-years-old has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching, is provided with opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform, and has clear and affordable progression routes available to them. All hubs must also develop a singing strategy for their area; and may also provide extension roles including continuous professional development and instrument loans.

A more detailed announcement on all music education programme funding for 2015-16 will be made shortly.