HC Deb 01 February 1989 vol 146 cc222-3W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have implemented section 58 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

Mrs. Rumbold

All local education authorities in England and Wales are subject to section 58, which empowers an LEA to pay travelling and subsistence allowances to governors of schools and establishments of further education, in accordance with the provisions of a scheme made by it.

I do not have any information about the number of authorities which have implemented schemes.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance the Government will give to local education authorities not opposed to section 58 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

Mrs. Rumbold

The fact that an LEA may decide not to introduce a scheme for the payment of travelling and subsistence allowances does not mean that it is "opposed" to the section. It merely shows that the LEA has chosen to give priority to other areas of expenditure, which may, in the circumstances of the particular LEA, be entirely proper.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to make mandatory the powers under section 58 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

Mrs. Rumbold

We believe that it should be for local education authorities, in determining their expenditure priorities, to decide whether to introduce a scheme for the payment of travelling and subsistence allowances to governors.

We hope, nevertheless, that LEAs will provide allowances where not to do so would cause genuine hardship or would discourage people from becoming governors.