§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that any scheme of financial delegation to schools should provide sufficient funds in every case to enable the continued employment of the present teaching staff on the assumption that the number of pupils remains constant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThe Government do not intend to impose a single model scheme of financial delegation. Subject to the passage of the Education Reform Bill, it will be for each local education authority to prepare and submit its own scheme for approval. My right hon. Friend has issued for comment a draft consultative document which envisages that the budget of each school under a scheme of financial delegation should be based primarily on pupil numbers, weighted for differences in age. It will be for the governing body to determine the staffing required to meet the current and changing educational needs and priorities of the school within its delegated budget.