§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the expansion of Northamptonshire at the behest of central Government is taken into account when assessing central Government provision of funds for education.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleCentral Government assistance to local authorities through the rate support grant is not earmarked for particular services such as education. A new method of assessing authorities' standard expenditure, which will replace the current needs assessment in relation to all services is being discussed with the local authority associations for the purposes of the new rate support grant arrangements proposed for 1981–82. It is intended that this method should produce more equitable results than its predecessor. Allocations of capital expenditure for education at present through the Department's building starts programmes take account of population growth in Northamptonshire.