§ 55. Mr. M. Stewartasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is aware that more than one-quarter of all local education authorities spend less than 10s. per head of school population per year on books; and what steps he will take to remedy this situation.
§ Sir E. BoyleYes, Sir. My noble Friend recently emphasised the great importance of an adequate supply of suitable books and other reading material, especially for school libraries. He hopes that as a result of the further publicity which has been given to this matter, local education authorities will take steps to see that their schools do get enough books, and he will continue to take a keen interest in this.
§ Mr. StewartDoes not the hon. Gentleman's noble Friend feel that he can do anything further beyond exhortation in this matter?
§ Sir E. BoyleMy noble Friend cannot lay down how much local education authorities should spend. What he can do—and I am doing it again this afternoon—is to emphasise very strongly that money spent on school books is money well spent. I think that anybody going round new schools today must be encouraged by the growing signs of improvement in school libraries.
Mr. JenningsIs my hon. Friend aware that last year his Department issued figures showing that for every £1 of expenditure on education, only 2d. was spent on school books? Is he aware that these are the real tools of a teacher's trade and will he try in practical terms to persuade every local authority to spend a larger proportion of that £1 on school books?
§ Sir E. BoyleThere has been a great improvement in school libraries in recent years. They are one of the most encouraging departments of nearly all new schools. I would only reiterate that my noble Friend most warmly agrees that this is a part of local education revenue which is extremely well spent.