§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he has given to local education authorities over expansion of education administration and peripheral services at a time when the basic educational service is under severe restraint.
§ Mr. Mulley:The Joint Circular on the Rate Support Grant settlement for 1976–77—DES Circular 15/75—stated that
the Government, beyond outlining the general policy on expenditure and indicating in broad terms their views on the relative priorities for the various services which should operate in 325W 1976–77, do not consider it appropriate to offer more precise guidance to authorities on the manning adjustments necessitated by present constraints".Since 1970, expenditure on educational administration and inspection has remained at about 5 per cent. of local authority current expenditure on the education service.