§ 32. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the Government's financial grant to the Inner London Education Authority for the year 1980–81; and if he will make a statement on the different basis for calculating the grant for 1981–82.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleUnder the arrangements which applied up to and including 1980–81, grant was not calculated separately for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). The needs element grant paid to inner London boroughs, on which ILEA precepted, was calculated in respect of all the relevant services as a whole.
In 1981–82, under the new block grant system, a separate calculation of grant entitlement is made for ILEA. As I explained in my statement on 4 February, the level of this grant entitlement will be related to ILEA's expenditure. The principles of the new system, which applies to all local authorities, were set out in the Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1980, which was presented to Parliament on 16 December 1980.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has agreed, following a recent request to him under section 56(2) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, that grant in respect of ILEA should continue to be paid to the inner London boroughs, on which ILEA will still precept for its revenue.