§ Mr. StottTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that any change in structure of educational administration in Northern Ireland, as advanced in the consultative document, will not result in any real cut in the appropriation of funds to the Department of Education, after the implementation of a revised administrative structure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyWhile the stated objectives of the consultative document include achieving greater effectiveness, efficiency and economy so as to improve education services in Northern Ireland, the extent of any net savings cannot be evaluated until the Government have analysed the cost of setting up and operating any new structures. At that stage, the overall expenditure needs of the Department of Education, like those of other Northern Ireland Departments, will have to be decided in the public expenditure survey, in the usual way.