* The Department for Education and Skills’ total spending in England has increased from pound;29.4bn under the Conservatives in 20067 to pound;48.7bn under Labour in 20034 and is set to rise to pound;64bn in 20078 according to the latest Government spending plans.
* UK education spending was 4.7 per cent of GDP in 1997, but had risen to 5.3 per cent by 20034 and is expected to rise to 5.6 per cent by 20078.
* By then, the Government says, average per pupil spending will have risen to at least pound;5,500, more than twice 1997 levels.
