HC Deb 12 March 1990 vol 169 c26W
Mr. Jopling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will explain the arrangements which will allow the transitional funding arrangements for local management of schools to be extended beyond the normal four-year period.

Mrs. Rumbold

We are looking sympathetically at LEA proposals to extend the transition period for individual schools which would otherwise face annual reductions of 1 per cent. or more in their total budgets because of high inherited staff costs.

Mr. Jopling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the general schools budget has been proposed by each education authority for which he has responsibility for distribution to individual schools for use under local management of schools; and what levels he has agreed to in the schemes which he has approved.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 5 February 1990,Official Report, column 451. The total amount held back from distribution to schools by local education authorities is not subject to approval. However, there is an upper limit of 10 per cent. of the general schools budget on the amount that may be held back for spending on the majority of items over which local education authorities have discretion whether to retain central control.