§ 4. Mr. A. Fenner Brockwayasked the Minister of Education whether she has yet approved the decision of the Buckinghamshire Education Authority to reduce education expenditure by £80,000 for the forthcoming year, including £29,150 on upkeep of buildings and grounds, £5,000 on equipment and furniture for primary and secondary schools, £4,200 on further education, £1,350 on aid to pupils and university grants, and £5,700 on medical inspection and treatment; and to what extent this reduction is in addition to a reduction of £14,000 reported to her Department prior to her recent circular authorising a cut of 5 per cent.
§ Miss HorsbrughCircular 242 does not ask authorities to submit for my approval the reductions which they decide to make in their forecasts for 1952–53. As regards the reduction of £14,000 referred to, I understand that in preparing their detailed estimates last November the authority corrected by this sum an overestimate in the forecast which they had prepared the previous month. The figure 629 of £80,000 quoted by the hon. Member includes this sum.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs it not a fact that the figures given in this Question represent the published original estimates for this year and the cuts which followed the right hon. Lady's Circular? Does she not regard these cuts as interferring with the county's educational fabric?
§ Miss HorsbrughWhen the estimates are sent to my Department in April I shall certainly see if any economies which are made interfere with the essential fabric of education, and if they do I shall discuss the matter with the authority concerned.
§ Mr. F. BeswickAs the Minister appears to be against the detailed economies mentioned in the House, is she still certain that she will get the original economies for which she asked?
§ Miss HorsbrughNothing in this life is certain; we can only hope.