HC Deb 17 July 1997 vol 298 c302W
Mr. McNulty

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the timetable for the inspection of local education authorities outlined in the Education Bill; how the local education authorities will be chosen; how many are to be inspected; and on what basis they will be reviewed. [7565]

Mr. Byers

As announced in the White Paper "Excellence in Schools", the programme of LEA inspections under the 1997 Education Act will begin in January 1998. The inspections will be led by OFSTED assisted by the Audit Commission. Announcements about the selection of LEAs and the framework of inspection, will be made in the autumn.