§ 76. Mr. MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any local education authorities now making representations to his Department about their state of preparedness for the forthcoming general certificate of secondary education examinations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend has received no recent representations from local education authorities on this matter.
The Government recognise that successful implementa-tion of the GCSE requires continuing commitment from authorities and the education service in general. My right hon. Friend has demonstrated the Government's own continuing commitment in our expenditure plans for 1988–89 which allow for some £87 million local authority expenditure on GCSE non-teaching costs. As in 1987–88, the Government are providing as much as the local authorities say they need. It is for local authorities to ensure that the available resources are targeted on priority needs.