§ 11. Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Coopers and Lybrand report on school funding. [26875]
§ Mr. WorthingtonFollowing consultation with schools, significant first steps towards achieving commonality in Local Management of Schools funding formulae, which is the main thrust of the Coopers and Lybrand Report, have now been set in place for 1998–99. All formulae will, in practice, operate on the same basis in relation to small schools and premises costs. Some progress has also been made in moving towards common age weighted pupil units, and further consultations and discussion with education interoses on this and on the targeting Social Need element of the formula will take place in the coming year.