To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated to the Social Care Institute for Excellence since the announcement of the College of Social Work; and how much funding he has allocated to the Social Care Institute for Excellence for each of the next five years.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has been asked to facilitate the establishment of the College of Social Work, providing administrative support and expertise in a developmental phase of two years. The Department of Health has made £2.5 million available for this work. The Department of Education has committed to match this funding and officials are in discussions as to the appropriate time to make funds available to meet the emerging business development plan.