§ Mr. ShoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what study his Department has undertaken in relation to additional educational needs grant; and when he plans to publish the findings;
(2) what arrangements he has made for consultation with local education authorities to discuss the impact of proposed changes in additional educational needs grant.
§ Mr. Robin SquireWe are at present reviewing the additional educational needs allowance as part of a wider-ranging review of standard spending assessments —SSAs—in the light of 1991 census data that have recently become available. We are studying the statistical evidence and underlying rationale for various options. The Government have already made available to the local authority associations preliminary statistical findings from the review and is consulting them on the implications for authorities. Consultations are taking place through the SSA sub-group of the local government finance settlement working group.