§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the spending on books in England per primary school child for every year for the last 10 years.
§ Mrs. RumboldWhile local authorities' expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment show separate figures for books, these need to be treated with caution because of differing local authority practices in allocating spending between books and equipment. The table therefore shows spending figures for books and equipment together as well as for books separately.686W
Expenditure per pupil on books and equipment Primary schools, England, £ cash Books and equipment Within which, books 1977–78 11.40 3.60 1978–79 12.80 4.20 1979–80 14.30 4.70 1980–81 16.00 5.30 1981–82 18.20 5.90 1982–83 20.90 7.00 1983–84 22.80 7.10 1984–85 23.50 7.30 1985–86 24.90 7.50 1986–87 28.00 8.20 The Government's expenditure plans for 1989–90 allow for provision per primary pupil for books and equipment to increase by 32 per cent. in cash over the 1986–87 level.