§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what safeguards exist under the provisions for delegated schools budgets to ensure that governors do not misuse their positions in respect of the placing of contracts with private companies.
§ Mr. ButcherGoverners are free to place contracts with whichever company offers the service which best meets their school's needs. There are a number of safeguards: the Education (School Government) Regulations prevent individual governors from participating in any decision in which they have a pecuniary interest; governors acting in bad faith over the placing of contracts, whether for gain or otherwise, would not be protected from personal liability; and the use of improper influence in the placing of contracts would also constitute grounds for the withdrawal of delegated responsibility.