§ 48. Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many times the Board have had to take action against local education authorities for failing to arrange for an adequate reduction in the size of its classes during recent years; what was the highest penalty that the Board ever ordered; and what was the name of the education authority concerned?
Mr. LindsayThe Board have not found it necessary to take such action as the hon. Member indicates in any case in recent years. In this, as in other matters, the Board rely on their powers of persuasion rather than on the threat of a reduction of grant, but where the circumstances show it to be necessary a warning is given that failure to take appropriate action may involve loss of grant.
§ Mr. ThorneIs it not the fact that the Department has a record of one local authority at the time the Municipal Reform party were in charge of the London County Council being fined £10.