HC Deb 27 January 1995 vol 253 cc410-1W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 19 January,Official Report, columns 641–42, on what date information requested by the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth on the balances held by schools in England was due in to her Department; what steps are being taken to obtain the information where it is late; and what requirement is made of local education authorities to give reasons if the information is late.

Mr. Robin Squire

Regulations made under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 require local education authorities to publish their local management of schools outturn statements before 1 November following the end of the financial year to which the statement relates. In relation to statements for the year 1993–94, a letter was sent by the Department to all LEAs in October 1994 reminding them of the imminence of this deadline. In cases of significant delay, the LEAs in question have been further reminded as appropriate, and explanations obtained from them. The attention of LEAs has also been drawn to the powers of the Secretary of State under section 99 of the Education Act 1944.

In the table included in the answer given on 19 January to the hon. Member, the following figures should be substituted for those previously given:

LEA Balance £000
Avon 12,093
Buckinghamshire 8,116
Dorest 7,200