HC Deb 07 December 1994 vol 251 c218W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the shortfall between resources allocated to local education authorities in 1994–95 and the bids made by them; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Robin Squire

The 1994–95 local authority grant settlement allowed for local education authorities to spend £17,087 million on education in that year. This was distributed between authorities through the standard spending assessment mechanism, and through a limited range of specific grants. Bids related only to some of the specific grants, which totalled less than 2 per cent. of the settlement for education. Local authorities also bid for credit approvals in respect of capital projects.