§ Ms MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will assess the level of education provision made by Bedfordshire County Council. [53003]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answers 28 July 1998]: A recent Ofsted/Audit Commission inspection of Bedfordshire LEA found that overall the LEA provided effective support in contributing to improvements in the quality of education. The report also confirmed that the authority had a high level of surplus school places. The LEA is currently undertaking a review to identify the scope for reducing surplus capacity.