HC Deb 19 July 1988 vol 137 cc940-1
12. Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist for monitoring the efficiency of local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate, through their detailed work in auditing and inspection respectively, play a central part in monitoring the efficiency of local education authorities. In addition, the Government set efficiency targets in critical areas such as staffing ratios and the removal of surplus school accommodation and monitor local authority performance in relation to those targets.

Mr. Batiste

Is my hon. Friend aware of the growing practice in some Labour-controlled education authorities of allowing councillors to usurp the day-to-day functions of full-time officials? Does that not cause great damage to the efficient running of education in many parts of the country, such as in Leeds at this time? Will my hon. Friend ask for an efficiency audit of the performance of Leeds education authority?

Mrs. Rumbold

It is deplorable that locally elected members should usurp the position of the professional officers and not take their advice when they are dealing with matters as serious as education. I hope that my hon. Friend will make that clear to the electorate at the local elections so that they ensure that the right sort of people are elected as councillors, who will take professional advice when it comes to such matters as education.

Mr. Cryer

When the Department of Education and Science examines the efficiency of a city such as Bradford, will it be taken into account that because of the parsimony of the Government Bradford has at least 500 temporary classrooms, which causes enormous difficulties for teachers in maintaining reasonable standards? If the DES is concerned about standards of teaching, why does it not give more money to allow proper, permanent extensions to schools in Bradford, to get rid of the shanty-town classrooms that disfigure too many schools?

Mrs. Rumbold

In 1985–86 local education authorities spent £280 million on the repair and maintenance of primary and secondary school buildings. In 1986–87 the sum had risen to £320 million, an increase in cash terms of 14 per cent. Those amounts represent average expenditure per school of £11,750 in 1985–86 and £13,500 in 1986–87. I am sure that in Bradford those amounts will have been spent according to the priorities of the local education authority.