HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 c11
13. Mr. Martlew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to introduce flexibility for schemes for the local management of schools.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government's framework for local management of schools gave LEAs ample flexibility to design schemes which reflected local needs and priorities. There are, moreover, simple arrangements which allow local education authorities to make changes to their approved schemes in the light of experience.

Mr. Martlew

Will the Minister agree to meet spokespersons of the Cumbria education committee, which requested such a meeting because of the Secretary of State's unfair criticism of the way in which it has been dealt with LMS? Is it not a fact that the problem with LMS in Cumbria, as in the rest of the country, is not how money is distributed but a lack of money?

Mrs. Rumbold

Local education authorities set their own aggregated schools budgets. They do it exactly the same as they did before. Therefore, if there is a particular small element of the way in which a budget has been disbursed, by all means, if an authority wishes to discuss it, there is no reason why it should not do so.

Mr. Latham

Would my hon. Friend have a look at the proposed averaging across secondary schools and see how it will affect sixth form colleges? Is she aware that the Rutland sixth form college in my constituency is most concerned about the proposals? I understand that other sixth form colleges are concerned as well.

Mrs. Rumbold

I am very happy to look at any particular schemes that are being brought in and to talk to the local education authority about them. It would be appropriate to allow the scheme to run for a year and then look at the effects.