§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage local authorities to allow a 2 per cent, growth in their education programmes 532W next year, as stated in his speech to the Council of Local Education Authorities on 16th July.
§ Mr. MulleyDiscussions are proceeding in the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance about the measures needed to contain expenditure in 1976–77 within the limits indicated for the different services concerned, including education. Following these consultations advice on these measures will be offered to local authorities. While the aim is to restrain the growth of current expenditure on education to 2 per cent. above the level implicit in this years rate support grant settlement, the growth rate appropriate for any individual authority may differ from this national average according to variations in demand, especially those related to growth or decline in population.