§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what local education authorities have made no provision for discretionary awards to students in 1991–92 and 1990–91;
(2) what local education authorities in the United Kingdom have reduced their budget provision for discretionary awards to students at (a) further and (b) higher education levels in real terms in 1991–92 relative to provision in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthInformation is not yet available about local education authorities' outturn expenditure on discretionary awards to students in 1990–91, or their budgeted expenditure in 1991–92. The 1991–92 revenue support grant settlement increased standard spending on education by 16 per cent. over 1990–91. It would have58W allowed authorities collectively to spend 9 per cent. more in 1991–92 than they themselves planned to spend in total on education in 1990–91. This would have permitted some growth in overall discretionary award provision if authorities so chose. I am not aware of any authority ceasing to pay discretionary awards altogether.