HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 cc843-4
1. Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any evidence that sharing amongst children of essential textbooks is widespread; how this compares with previous years, and if he will make a statement.

10. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he remains satisfied with the availability of books in primary and secondary schools.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Mark Carlisle)

Her Majesty's inspectors have reported satisfactory provision of books in some 700 schools out of 1,000 visited, and in just over half the local education authorities in England. There is, however, cause for concern about the availability of books in some areas and some schools and Her Majesty's inspectors have reported some cases of textbooks being shared. That is why the Government have made provision in their public expenditure plans for real increases of 2 per cent. each year in expenditure per pupil on books and equipment.

Mr. Pawsey

I am grateful for that illuminating reply. Will my right hon. and learned Friend advise local education authorities as soon as possible that capitation allowances can and should be spent on books, rather than on expensive teaching aids that may be of doubtful value?

Mr. Carlisle

I have often repeated the firm belief of myself and my fellow Ministers in the importance of the provision of books in schools. Capitation fees are under pressure, but over a period of years the proportion being spent on books, compared with other equipment, has been dropping.

Mr. Flannery

Is the Secretary of State aware that the attempt by his hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. Pawsey) to cover up the right hon. and learned Gentleman's inadequate answer will not wash? The inspectorate, head teachers and teachers all over the country confirm that capitation allowances are inadequate because of tilt excessive cuts, that textbooks have to be shared in schools all over the country—children's education is suffering as a result—and that the capitation allowance does not cover the provision of computers and other equipment. It is no good trying to conceal those facts, because everybody knows them.

Mr. Carlisle

There is no desire to cover up an inadequate answer. I set out the position clearly, I said during our debate on the inspectors' report that we are concerned about the shortage of books in certain areas. That is why we have assumed in our public expenditure plans a slight increase in expenditure in that direction. It is no good suggesting that this has all happened in the past two years. As I said in our debate, when the previous Labour Government left office expenditure on books had fallen by 33 per cent. compared with the level when they took office.

Mr. Greenway

Is my right hon. and learned Friend's Department monitoring the extent to which photocopiers are being used to reproduce work sheets? Can he confirm that that system is a suitable substitute for books in many areas of many subjects?

Mr. Carlisle

We are not monitoring in that way, but throughout the 1970s the proportion of the capitation fee spent on equipment, as against books, rose steadily.

Mr. Marks

Given that the supply of textbooks is unsatisfactory in 30 per cent. of schools, does the Secretary of State accept that the Secretary of State for the Environment's demand for further cuts from many councils will lead to a further deterioration?

Mr. Carlisle

I should make it clear to the hon. Gentleman that what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment proposed the other day was not a new round of cuts. He was merely pointing out that the budgeted expenditure proposals of local authorities were above what had been provided for in the White Paper. He invited local authorities to rebudget in an attempt to get in line with that. The amount of money for education as a whole is that set out in the White Paper. The volume of money for education has not been changed.

Mr. Field

Is not the Secretary of State's reading of the HMI report rather selective? Will he remind the House that the inspectorate reported to him that in over half the secondary schools there were severe problems with text books? Do not those results warrant more effective action than he has announced to the House?

Mr. Carlisle

I quoted directly from the inspectors' report in my answer. In 700 of the 1,000 schools visited, and in just over half the local education authorities, the situation was satisfactory. I accept that there were areas where there was cause for concern about the availability of books.