The system is bureaucratic and time consuming. In the long term some kind of devolution in decision making will be desirable. We are criticised for being an over-centralised country. The Department should consider decentralising its basic functions to county level. Politicians will give reasons, political and otherwise, for not proceeding on that basis. For example, they will argue that with a population the size of Manchester it is better for the country if resources are centralised. However, it is worth debating the dependency culture this kind of arrangement engenders. It creates much frustration among parents, teachers and managers. It is not the most efficient system.