Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 February 2010. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Friday, 12 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Local Government Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 22 October 2009, Official Report, column 1645W, on local government finance, what data sets not contained in the national indicator set local authorities are required to submit to his Department.

Answer: Local authorities are required under section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (formerly section 52 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998) to prepare and submit an education budget statement (containing details of the LAs funding plans for the financial year) before the start of each financial year (i.e. by 31 March). They are also obliged to prepare and submit an education outturn statement (containing details of the actual expenditure and funding of schools and LAs during the financial year) at the end of each financial year.Details on exactly what data are collected by these exercises can be accessed via the Every Child Matters website:"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/financeandfunding/informationforlocalauthorities/section52/section52/"

Secondary information