§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make additional moneys available to enable Clwyd education authority to meet its special needs duties; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what measures he proposes to take to enable head teachers to reduce large class sizes; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will visit Clwyd education authority and discuss with it the difficulties they face in delivering its statutory responsibilities;
(4) what percentage increase in cash he has proposed for Clwyd education authority for recruitment of more teaching staff;
(5) by what percentage he plans to increase Clwyd education authority's budget to enable it to spend more cash on its books and its equipment budget; and if he will make a statement.
(6) if he will convene a conference of local education authorities in Wales to discuss funding difficulties; and if he will make a statement;
(7) if he will fund Clwyd education authority to enable its head teachers to provide additional cover for absent staff; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RichardsClwyd county council's provisional standard spending assessment for 1995–96 is £266.642 million, an increase of 1.7 per cent. including resources for community care. It is for the authority to decide on spending priorities between and within services in the light of its statutory responsibilities and its perception of local needs and priorities. Discussions with local authorities on funding issues are undertaken through the forum of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.