HC Deb 30 October 1979 vol 972 cc484-5W
Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to penalise those local education authorities which do not meet the target for reductions in spending by altering the rate support grant.

Mr. King

The Government expect all local authorities to co-operate in reducing their expenditure. But we do not intend to stand by if certain authorities flout Government policy, without regard to the nation's economic circumstances and at the expense of the great majority of responsible authorities. We expect shortly to anounce measures to bring home to such authorities the consequences of their behaviour.