School Books And Equipment (Kent) Mrs. Fenner asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum he allocated to Kent county council from the extra £35 million budget he allocated for books and equipment. Mr. Mark Carlisle The assumptions underlying the Government's expenditure plans for books and equipment are directed to the national picture, not to the circumstances of individual local authorities. As rate support grant is a block grant given in support of local authority expenditure on all its services and not earmarked in aid of particular services or parts of a service, it is for local authorities to determine their own spending priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.