asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost to public funds of her Department's litigation in the Tameside dispute; and if she will make a statement.

The figures are not yet available. It has not been possible in negotiations between the Treasury Solicitor and the legal representatives of the Tameside local authority to agree a figure for the authority's costs. At present, formal bills of costs are awaited from the authority and these can if necessary be placed before the court for determination.