HC Deb 27 November 2001 vol 375 c782W
Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what options her Department can take in respect of a local education authority which does not address problems highlighted by Ofsted to her satisfaction. [17956]

Mr. Timms

Where she judges that an LEA is failing or lacks the capacity to take the necessary measures to improve its performance, the Secretary of State has a range of options depending on the nature of the failings identified and on local circumstances. To date, these have included full or partial outsourcing of LEA services, private sector management delivery and non-outsourcing solutions, usually based on the re-structuring of internal strategic management, partnerships with other LEAs and/or structured arrangements for involving elected members, local stakeholders and independent expertise, as in partnership boards.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department has been approached by Torbay Unitary Authority for support following the Ofsted report into the performance of Torbay Local Education Authority; and if she will make a statement. [17958]

Mr. Timms

My Department has not been approached by Torbay Unitary Authority since the publication of the Ofsted report on the LEA. The Authority is preparing its Post-Inspection Action Plan, which will be submitted to my Department by 15 January 2002.