§ 8. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the scale of the economies effected by local education authorities in buying school equipment through consortia.
§ Miss LestorIn some instances as much as 10 per cent. has been saved by particular bulk buying operations. Economic benefits also accrue where development work carried out by the consortia leads to better value for money, but it is not possible to give an overall figure for the scale of savings.
§ Mr. BoydenI welcome that answer. How many local education authorities buy their laboratory equipment in this way?
§ Miss LestorI am afraid I could not give that information without notice, but I should be glad to give it if my hon. Friend put down another Question.