HC Deb 05 February 1980 vol 978 c152W
59. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will allocate the necessary resources to local education authorities which have a need for language laboratories for their ethnic minorities.

Dr. Boyson

The Government's expenditure plans for 1980–81, as embodied in the 1980–81 rate support grant settlement, allow nationally for per capita standards of provision in primary and secondary schools non-teaching running costs to be 2 per cent higher in real terms than they were last year. Schools non-teaching running costs are the broad expenditure category which covers,inter alia, ancillary staff, books and equipment, including language laboratory equipment.

However, rate support grant is paid as a block grant and it is ultimately for individual local education authorities to determine the pattern of their expenditure both between and within services.