HC Deb 02 December 1988 vol 142 cc402-3W
Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools are to be taken over by each of the inner London borough councils as a result of the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

Mrs. Rumbold

At this stage it is not possible to say precisely how many schools each inner London council will inherit on 1 April 1990. Councils are required to list in their development plans the schools that they propose to maintain. In general, schools will be transferred to the council in whose area they are situated, although it is in principle possible for them to be transferred to a different council if, exceptionally, local circumstances warrant this. Future arrangements for the maintenance of the residential special schools located outside inner London are currently under discussion with the inner London councils and ILEA.

Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will set out the allowances made to each inner-London borough council in respct of education costs to be incurred in 1988–89, indicating how the total figure and the individual allocations have been arrived at;

(2) what representations he has received from inner-London boroughs about the adequacy of the allowance made to them for education costs in 1988–89; and what has been his response.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government is making available grant of £3 million in 1988–89 in respect of expenditure by the inner London councils on their preparation for the transfer of education responsibilities. Each borough may claim up to £240,000, and the City of London £120,000, reflecting the fact that the major items of preparatory expenditure this year will be common to all councils. A small number of boroughs have made representations about the amount of grant available in 1988–89, but we have informed them that we believe the sums available will be adequate to meet reasonable preparatory costs.