HC Deb 19 November 1998 vol 319 c759W
25. Mr. St. Aubyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the role of the private sector in the management of schools. [59129]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Responsibility for managing maintained schools which have delegated budgets rests in law with the governing body, with support as necessary from the local education authority. Governing bodies and local authorities may purchase advice or services from the private sector to help them meet their statutory duties.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, column 524, on the cost of qualifications in maintained schools, if he will rank each local education authority in order of the cost per (a) A level and (b) GCSE, by dividing the education standard spending assessment per secondary school pupil by the number of qualifications obtained in each authority. [60094]

Mr. Mudie

[holding answer 16 November 1998]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.