§ 8. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider convening a conference of local education authorities to consider the effect of expenditure cuts on education.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI have regular meetings with the local authority associations at which we discuss, among other things, the effect of the Government's expenditure plans on the education service.
§ Mr. HughesWill the Secretary of State at last appreciate the serious deterioration in education, which is confirmed by the report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate? Does he accept that if he called a conference of local education authorities he would at least get a first-hand, blow-by-blow appraisal of the situation?
§ Mr. CarlisleThe report was fully debated recently in the House. If the hon. Gentleman wants a re-run of that debate, I shall be happy to take part at any time. I visit many schools, and am fully aware of the position throughout the country. I have never pretended that it is easy to reduce expenditure, but I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman says about the effect of the cuts.
§ Mr. FreudWhen the Secretary of State next meets LEAs, will he tell them that he will not implement contentious LEA decisions in the months before the county council elections?
§ Mr. CarlisleIt would not be right to hold back departmental decisions just because an election is pending, but I shall bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says.
§ Mr. DickensSince local government officers are past masters at convening conferences at seaside resorts at the taxpayers' and ratepayers' expense, will the Secretary of State resist the temptation to convene yet another conference?
§ Mr. CarlisleWhen I meet local education authorities it is usually at Elizabeth House and not at a nice seaside resort.