§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether local education authorities are able to pay school governors, in the light of Section 58(7) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 and Viscount Davidson's reply to a supplementary question by Baroness David on 23rd May (Official Report, col. 153).
§ Viscount DavidsonUnder Section 58(1) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, an LEA may, in accordance with the provisions of a scheme made by them, pay travelling and subsistence allowances to school governors. Section 58(7) states that no other allowance may be paid to school governors in respect of the discharge of their functions. Under employment legislation, school governors are usually entitled to reasonable time off from their place of work in order to perform their duties as governors. The Government welcome the decision by some employers to continue paying employees during such periods of absence.