§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply of 5 July, Official Report, c. 151, which schemes of the Inner London education authority are extravagant; and what percentage of the current budget of that authority those schemes represent.
§ Mr. DunnThe Inner London education authority plans to spend in 1983–84 at a level 66 per cent. above its grant-related expenditure assessment. This level of overspend above an assessment which takes account of authorities' differing needs is larger in percentage terms than in either of the two previous years and much larger 99W than for any other authority with education responsibilities. The authority has also increased its budget in 1983–84 compared with 1982–83 by more than any other authority with education responsibilities at a time when, for example, its school rolls within the statutory age range are falling faster than the average rate of reduction.
It is for the authority to decide on its level of expenditure on different sub-sectors. But between 1979–80 and 1981–82 the authority increased its net expenditure on school meals and milk by some 18 per cent., despite the fall in its school population, while expenditure on these items nationally fell by 5 per cent. CIPFA statistics for 1982–83 show that ILEA's expenditure per school pupil on non-teaching staff is around 111/2 times the average for the London area and 211/2 times the national average. Expenditure of this order is not justified.
Thousands 1982 (actuals) 1983 1984 1985 Primary (aged five and over) 3,619 3,432 3,317 3,275 Change from preceding year -187 -115 -42 Secondary 3,798 3,748 3,659 3,544 Change from preceding year -50 -89 -115 Primary and Secondary 7,417 7,180 6,976 6,819 Change from preceding year -237 -204 -157