§ 100. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for ensuring that local authorities maximise the percentage of their education budgets which are devoted directly to pupils and equipment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldProvision for local authority spending on education is mainly channelled through block grant which is unhypothecated. The Government's plans identify particular levels of expenditure on areas of education provision and it is for the individual local authorities to decide on their own priorities to be met from within the resources available to them. However, education support grants are allocated for specific purposes, including the provision of books and equipment for the GCSE, and must be used for the prescribed purpose.