§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations were held between his Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions about the content of Best Value Performance Plans required of local authorities. [156444]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisMy Department has been consulted about published documents on Best Value, including the final version of the statutory guidance on Best Value Performance Plans in DETR Circular 10/1999. Officials from both Departments meet regularly to discuss the implementation of Best Value.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the year of calculation for education targets in best value performance plans to a school year basis. [156441]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisOur aim in introducing best value performance indicators has been to minimise burdens on local authorities by linking them to existing data collection exercises. Some of the education performance indicators are calculated on a school year basis, apart from those for expenditure and for special education needs. Compiling these on a school year would create work for local authorities, and make education expenditure indicators out of line with those for other authority services. Furthermore, any significant change in calculation method would mean that local authorities lose historical trends over time.