§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 18 October,Official Report, column 99, what was the purpose of the specific purpose grant (emergency) paid to the Kirbie Kendal school in the last financial year.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe grant was paid in respect of expenditure incurred by the school in connection with meeting the needs of a number of pupils with statements of their speical educational needs.
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what(a) contacts his Department has had with and (b) payments it has made to firms of consultants or accountants in respect of the organisation of conferences, seminars or workshops on grant-maintained status or the provision of advice thereon.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Department has not to date called in consultants or accountants to assist it in, or provide advice on, the organisation of conferences, seminars or workshops desigend to provide factual information on grant-maintained status, and has, therefore, not made payments to any such firms in this respect.
The Department does, however, use the services of a number of outside contractors to provide basic support for these events such as secretariat support, venue booking, a mailing service, and the provision of conference equipment.