HC Deb 03 November 1983 vol 47 cc413-4W
Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a system of inquiries into the cost-effectiveness of local authorities similar to the Rayner studies.

Mr. Waldegrave

No. The Audit Commission has a specific remit to undertakestudies designed to enable it to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the provision of local authority services.

90,324 brought their own food. The corresponding figures for the previous years are given in volume 7 of "Statistics of Education in Wales", table 8.01, a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Pendry

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in the years 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, what percentage of pupils in attendance at maintained schools in each education authority in Wales (a) took school meals (i) on payment and (ii) free and (b) took their own food to school.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

The figures for 1978 and 1982 are as follows:

And every local authority auditor appointed by the commission has a specific duty to satisfy himself that the authority has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of its resources.