§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance he has issued to local education authorities for the phasing out of additional revenue payments to former grant-maintained schools; [148379]
(2) over what period local education authorities will move to the delegation of 90 per cent. of their total education budget where the local education authority is delegating less than this amount; [148381]
(3) what guidance he has given to local education authorities in using the requirement for delegated schools budget to move 90 per cent. of the total local education authority budget to phase out the additional payments made to former grant-maintained schools; [148380]
(4) what arrangements have been made to phase out the additional revenue payments made to former grant-maintained schools. [148274]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has called on all local education authorities to delegate at least 85 per cent. of their local schools budgets in 2001–02 and at least 87 per cent. in 2002–03. The intention is to achieve a national average level of delegation of 90 per cent. in 2003–04, on a basis which takes account of the differing circumstances of individual local education authorities.
306WThe regulations requiring LEAs to provide a guaranteed level of funding for former grant-maintained schools are not directly connected with the minimum delegation requirements set by the Government, although the amount of transitional funding is likely to be influenced by the LEA's level of delegation. The existing arrangements for transitional funding will remain in place for 2001–02, subject to minor adjustments: no decision has yet been taken in respect of subsequent years.