§ 20. Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated increase in educational expenditure for 1974–75 in real terms compared with the current year.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI must ask the hon. Lady to await the publication next month of the Government's annual public expenditure White Paper.
§ Miss LestorWill the right hon. Lady tell the House now—because she must know the answer—whether the estimated increase in real terms represents the forecast percentage increase in the White Paper? Will she also give an assurance to the House that, despite the chaotic financial and economic situation of the country, there will be no cut-back on education expenditure in real terms in the current year?
§ Mrs. ThatcherI think that the hon. Lady must wait for the publication of the White Paper. She knows that these forecasts are not made absolute before that occurs.