§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the average percentage of total local authority expenditure devoted to the education service for the year 1974–75; which authorities will spend more than the average, expressed in percentages; and if he will give consideration to a specific grant for education.
§ Mr. OakesLocal authority expenditure on the education service is forecast to be 52.9 per cent. of total local authority revenue expenditure in 1974–75. Information about expenditure by individual local authorities is not at present available. My right hon. Friend will be making a statement shortly about the form of an independent inquiry which will look at the whole of local government finance; such a review would consider a grant system.