§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact on school budgets of the creation of unitary authorities; what estimate he has made of the impact of the change on the number of teachers; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate budget reductions arising out of the change to unitary status. [1043]
§ Mr. ByersIt is for unitary authorities, like other education authorities, to determine for themselves what the size of their schools budgets should be in the light of local priorities. We are presently reviewing the education element of the Standard Spending Assessment to ensure a fairer distribution of government grant. This may well benefit unitary authorities.