§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the local management of primary schools, with particular reference to the future management and continuation of small village schools in rural Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsLocal management of schools was introduced for the benefit of all schools. The arrangements enable the local education authorities to take account of disproportionately high costs faced by small schools where they consider it appropriate to do so. Accordingly, rural schools need face no greater threat to their existence under LMS than they did from previous funding arrangements.
As regards the future management of small schools, we have recently consulted LEAs and others about extending delegation of responsibility for managing their budget share to all primary schools by 1 April 1994.