§ 34. Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with local authorities regarding the use of the extra money for education announced in the budget for 1998–99. [18785]
§ Mr. ByersThe Department's officials have discussed with representatives of the Churches and Local Government organisations the principles and criteria for the allocation of the first two phases of capital funding under the New Deal for Schools.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State has written to LEAs, emphasising that a £1,017 million increase in recurrent funding announced by the Chancellor in his Budget has been made available for the people's priority of raising standards in our schools.