§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his statement on 4 February concerning the future and expenditure of the Inner London Education Authority, he will now list those items of expenditure which he believes can be omitted from the spending in the next financial year which will not prejudice the good service of that authority, and give for each item the related percentage of expenditure for the year 1980–81.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleIn 1979–80 unit costs in the Inner London Education Authority's schools were more than 50 per cent. greater than the national average and upwards of 25 per cent. greater than those of other comparable urban areas. It is for the authority itself to determine where reductions in expenditure can best be made without damaging the quality of the service. I hope that it will take into account both the savings in buildings and staffing which are possible, in inner London as in other areas, because of falling school rolls and the "disturbing examples of waste and inefficiency" identified in the recent report by Her Majesty's inspectors "Educational Provision by the Inner London Education Authority".