§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry to review the extent to which educational standards may be improved in those local authorities such as Hertfordshire which have limited financial provision available to them for educational purposes under the existing support arrangements because of their high rateable value.
§ Dr. BoysonThe equalisation arrangements within the rate support grant system are designed in such a way that authorities with different rateable resources should be able to provide for a similar standard of service by levying the same rate poundage. Authorities such as Hertfordshire, with high rateable values, are not disadvantaged by this system: they receive less grant than authorities with lower rateable values but do not thereby have to levy a higher rate poundage. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend does not think an inquiry would be appropriate.