§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to introduce controls on Welsh Office spending on the promotion of grant-maintained schools similar to those which are to be imposed on local authorities in accordance with section 36.of the Education766W Act 1993; when he proposes to publish the result of his consultation with local councils on this issue; how much time he allowed local authorities to respond to his circular on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [16950]
§ Mr. RichardsWelsh Office expenditure in respect of grant-maintained status for schools in limited to what is already considered to be the minimum necessary to ensure that interested parties have sufficient information which is factual and non-political in content, tone, and presentation to enable them to take an informed view about the grant-maintained option.
The consultation paper on the joint draft Education (Ballot Expenditure) Regulations was issued on 27 January 1995. Consultees were invited to submit comments by 24 February. In the light of the comments received, my right hon. Friends have modified upwards several of the expenditure limits described in the regulations which will now come into force on 1 April this year.
The provisions to limit local authority expenditure and put modest sums at the disposal of governing bodies are designed to achieve a balance between LEAs' and governing bodies' abilities to inform local debate on the matter.