§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures are being taken to provide increased administrative, technical and ancillary support in British schools.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend recognises the importance of administrative, technical and ancillary support for the effective running of schools. In England, some activities in the 1989–90 and 1989–91 education support grant programmes—notably some relating to local management of schools (LMS) and the national curriculum—will provide specific grants which can be used to improve such support. Otherwise, it is for local education authorities and, under LMS, their schools to decide for themselves what proportion of available funding to devote to such support. The education standard spending total within the proposed local authority grant settlement for England in 1990–91 allows for priority to be given to such spending, relative to the levels of spending assumed in the comparable total for 1989–90.