§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the effects of local management of schools on remedial schools in Wales and, in particular, how it has affected teacher/student ratios over the last two years.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsWelsh Office circular 38/91 required local education authorities to submit by 30 September 1993, at the latest, proposals to extend their LMS schemes to special schools so that they can be funded by LMS formulae. No proposals have been received to date.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the effects of local management of schools on(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales over the last two years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsAs at 1 April 1992, more than 650 primary schools and around 200 secondary schools were in receipt of delegated powers. The heads and governors of these schools can decide for themselves how best to use their budgets to meet priorities within their schools and the needs of individual pupils. It is our intention that all schools will be in a similar position by April 1995.
Many of the initial doubts and concerns raised with me about LMS have now been dispelled, but there are still some issues that I consider need further evaluation. While circular 36/88 required all local education authorities to review their schemes after three years, it is my intention that the Welsh Office should itself look again in detail at the LMS arrangements. As part of this review, I have commissioned the consultants, Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte, to provide an overview of how LMS is developing in Wales and to suggest areas where improvements can be considered. Their findings will be circulated to LEAs and other interested parties for comment. A copy will also be placed in the Library of the House.