§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes he has made in the method of funding of training grants to local education authorities in the financial year 1990–91; and what effects he expects these changes to have on the availability of in-service training courses.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe LEA training grants scheme in 1990–91 will support LEA expenditure of £122 million on national priority areas at a 65 per cent. rate of grant-an increase of £38 million over 1989–90. Adjustments have been made to the national priority rate of grant-from 70 per cent. to 65 per cent.-and to the amount of support given to expenditure on local priorities. Overall the effect will be that local education authorities will be able to spend more on training on national priorities, particularly the national curriculum. My right hon. Friend therefore expects more training to be available for national priorities, especially the implementation of the national curriculum and other provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988.