§ Mr. Alan Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy about the devolution of more financial discretion to individual schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend is in favour of schools having significant responsibility for their own expenditure and has welcomed the identification by the Audit Commission, in its recent report on "Aspects of Non-Teaching Costs in Secondary Schools", of the potential merits of increased delegation. Proposals in the Green Paper "Parental Influence at School" (Cmnd 9242) would increase the financial responsibilities of school governing bodies and leave it open to local education authorities to delegate more. Responses to this and other proposals in the Green Paper are now being considered.