HC Deb 06 May 1975 vol 891 cc1191-2
3 . Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with local education authorities about the level of expenditure on the provision of school books and equipment during the coming year.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)

The annual consultations between the Government and the local authority associations over rate support grant included a detailed examination of prospective levels of expenditure for each local authority service in England and Wales, including education. For this purpose, expenditure on books and equipment is included among non-teaching costs. My right hon. Friend took part in the consultations last year which preceded the 1975–76 settlement.

Mr. Goodhart

The Minister is responsible for providing the House and the country with adequate educational statistics. Is he aware that recent changes in local government accounting make it more difficult for those who are interested in the provision of school books to find out the true position? Is he aware that some education experts think that the change has in part been made to disguise the chaotic position in the provision of school books in certain areas?

Mr. Armstrong

I give the assurance that there is no attempt to disguise the true position. In our discussions with local authorities and, as far as I am aware, in discussions between Members and local authorities, the authorities are only too ready to give all the information they can about expenditure on books and equipment.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Is my hon. Friend aware that some local authorities are cutting back drastically on the supply of books in their schools? Will he impress upon education authorities that the two things that no education authority should cut, whatever else it may cut, are the numbers of teachers and the supply of books?

Mr. Armstrong

I am glad to have that comment from my hon. Friend. The rate support grant settlement allowed for a modest improvement in education expenditure in real terms. We gave no grounds for any authority's cutting either its teacher quota or the expenditure on books and equipment.