§ Mr. Simon HughesTo 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 SquireThe 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.