According to the official statistics, in Conservative-controlled Wandsworth 100 per cent. Friend is making his point with the eloquence and panache with which we customarily associate him. He has made a semi-political point. Surely what should be regarded as intrinsically objectionable in any local education authority is any notion that foot-dragging is taking place for the purpose of saving costs. I am delighted that my hon.
Friend recognises that.
Friend is right to draw attention to the reasons for the variability to which I refer. He is right to suggest that some authorities may be pursuing the matter lethargically not just because of inefficiency, and that there may be a more sinister cause. I shall deal with that shortly, when I refer to the insistence in the new clause that local education authorities deal with specificity. 5.30 pm I also wish to pick up the implied point that my hon. Friend made about the balance between statements and real provision.