The Government has paid out almost pound;6.3 million in additional support to failing local education authorities since October last year.
Payments were made to 18 authorities that had received adverse reports from the Office for Standards in Education which resulted in formal intervention by central government.
Of these, Leeds received the highest payment of more than pound;1.5 million. By contrast, Calderdale received just pound;528.
In response to a question by Conservative MP Andrew Turner, schools minister Stephen Timms said that payments related to work such as specialist advice and payments to interim managers. He refused to reveal the cost of individual contracts, claiming commercial confidentiality.
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