§ The Earl of Kimberleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they have approved Somerset County Council's request to exceed its education budget (despite this necessitating an increase in council tax) but refused Gloucestershire's request, notwithstanding the views expressed by parents and teachers in that county (which necessitates reducing council tax, involving an administration cost of £500,000).
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)On the basis of the figures put to us by the authorities, and taking into account each authority's overall financial situation, the impact on services of budgets at their original caps would not have been as constraining in Gloucestershire, as in Somerset, especially in respect of school budgets.