Explanatory note

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the Education (Training Grants) Regulations 1987, as amended. In addition to minor and drafting amendments, the following changes of substance are made.

The Secretary of State is authorised by regulation 4(f) to make grants to local education authorities to facilitate and encourage the further training of nursery nurses employed by local education authorities.

Regulation 8 sets out those training purposes, expenditure in respect of which, up to the maximum amount notified by the Secretary of State, attracts grant at the higher rate (65%). There is no longer any reference to training in a national priority area. Expenditure on all other eligible training, up to the maximum amount notified by the Secretary of State, attracts grant at the standard rate. The standard rate of grant is 60% whereas the lower rate of grant under the Education (Training Grants) Regulations 1987 was 50%.

Regulation 9(3) authorises the Secretary of State to make limited payments on account in respect of applications for grant submitted for the period January–March, the balance to be payable on submission of an application relating to actual expenditure in the year ended on 31st March.

Regulation 11 imposes an obligation on a local education authority to whom payments of grant are made to comply with such requests as may be determined by the Secretary of State in the case in question.