§ 17. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure that the Government's proposals further to curtail local authority expenditure do not adversely affect educational standards and provision.
§ Sir Keith JosephIt is for local authorities themselves to determine the balance betweeen services within the total relevant planned current expenditure of some £20,300 million set by the Government for the 1984–85 rate support grant settlement, taking account of their statutory duties and responsibilities. The level of service which can be provided within the total allocated to education will depend crucially on changes in costs between 1983–84 and 1984–85 and in particular on the level of pay settlements for local authority employees.
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§ 50. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action the Government are taking on Her Majesty's inspectorate annual report on educational expenditure for 1982.
§ Sir Keith JosephI take seriously the concerns expressed in Her Majesty's Inspectorate's report on the effects of local authorities' expenditure policies. It is useful material for both national and I hope local consideration of education expenditure and the use to which it is put.