HC Deb 12 November 1987 vol 122 cc187-8W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated charge, on the basis of current expenditure(a) per household and (b) per capita for each English district if a system of local income tax were introduced.

Mr. Howard

The Government remain firmly committed to the introduction of the community charge. They believe that the domestic rating system is discredited, and that a local income tax (LIT) would be unacceptable for a variety of reasons. Among the problems with LIT is the

independence and authority in running their schools. The Government's proposals which will be incorporated in the Education Reform Bill to be published shortly build on these developments. These proposals when implemented will substantially increase the autonomy which governing bodies and heads have in the running of all except the smallest maintained schools. In practice, heads of secondary schools can be expected in future to have operational control of all the resources, human, material and financial, allocated to their schools. The job of the head will become still more interesting, challenging and rewarding.