Nick Seaton, author of the report published by the Centre for Policy Studies, claims that only 12 of the 150 local authorities in England are meeting the Government’s target of passing on 80 per cent of their budget to schools He reached the figure by excluding the money the Government gives to councils for special projects through the standards fund, which they are required to delegate to schools.

The Department for Education and Employment insists that all local education authorities have met the Government’s target for reducing spending on administration.