HC Deb 05 March 1980 vol 980 cc203-4W
Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance he has given to education authorities about staffing of the careers service following the rate support grant statement.

Mr. Jim Lester

None. Rate support grant is a block grant in support of local revenue and it is for authorities themselves to determine the staffing of their own careers service.

Mr. Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assumption about expenditure on the careers service was made in preparing the 1980–81 rate support grant for England and Wales.

Mr. Jim Lester

The rate support grant order 1979, approved by the House on 16 January, shows an illustrative breakdown of local authority expenditure at November 1979 prices, including employment service expenditure. Of this about £38 million is attributed to the careers service. Rate support grant is an unhypothecated block grant in support of local revenue so that decisions on the actual level of careers service expenditure rest with the local authorities.