§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates of the costs of(a) teaching staff, (b) books and equipment and (c) repairs and maintenance he made when calculating the control total for the education service block of the total standard spending for 1995–96.
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones[holding answer 13 March 1995]: In reaching his decision on the control total for local authority spending on education for 1995–96, my right hon. Friend took account of probable pay and non-pay inflation, rising school rolls, and other relevant spending pressures. The education standard spending assessments calculated for individual local authorities are not spending targets and the level of spending on teaching staff, books, equipment, repairs and maintenance is a matter for local authorities and schools themselves.