§ Lord BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to call a National Educational Conference to discuss economies in education expenditure as suggested to them by the Professional Association of Teachers.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE (Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government do not consider that this proposal would add usefully to the consultations that are already taking place.
§ Lord BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Would the noble Lord give your Lordships information as to the steps that are being taken for the exchange of ideas to make money go as far as possible in education at this difficult time, starting with such extremely sensible suggestions as have been put forward by the Professional Association of Teachers?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGSBRIDGEYes, my Lords, we think that the suggestions are sensible; this is not in dispute. Expenditure on education is predominantly incurred by the local authorities and it is they, rather than the Department of Education and Science, who manage schools and colleges and the employment of teachers. 1066 The principal consultative medium for all matters of local authority expenditure in England and Wales is the Consultative Council of Local Government Finance. Consultations with this body are continuing on the implementation of the policy underlying the recent public expenditure White Paper. Education is particularly important to the Consultative Council because of the high proportion of local authorities' total expenditure which is devoted to education. Complementary to the Consultative Council, and specific to education, are the meetings which take place from time to time between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, or his representatives, and the Council of Local Education Authorities. So far as teachers are concerned, as no doubt the noble Lord knows, the local education authorities, who are the employers, have their own processes of consultation.