Primary Education

HC Deb 27 October 1981 vol 10 cc711-2

9. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will carry out a study to identify why primary education in the Inner London Education Authority costs almost twice as much as it does in Northamptonshire; whether it achieves higher standards; and to what extent the additional cost is borne by the general taxpayer.

Dr. Boyson:

No, Sir. The Government have already carried out a comprehensive review of the ILEA and in February this year announced their conclusions. Because ILEA's expenditure this year of about £700 million is almost 50 per cent. above the Government's assessment of its needs, it is likely to receive no grant, whereas Northamptonshire will receive about £74 million grant on its total expenditure of £174 million.

Mr. Marlow

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the ILEA, for all the money that it receives, provides as good education as that provided by other counties, such as Northamptonshire? If not, will he introduce a system whereby ILEA can produce that quality of education without subsidy, like the rather more efficient counties?

Dr. Boyson

The HMI report, which came out just over a year ago, indicated that there were deficiencies in a number of secondary schools in London. In the ILEA 14.09 per cent. of 16-year-old school leavers passed five O-levels, whereas in Northamptonshire, in which my hon Friend has a great interest, the figure was 16.7 per cent. We have said that we shall watch what is happening in the ILEA and that it must have a better return for the money that is being put in in terms of achievement. Otherwise, the situation will have to be re-examined.

Mr. Christopher Price

Now that at last the Minister has some responsibilities for the schools about which some of us had some fears, will he re-examine the complaints by Northamptonshire parents to the Secretary of State that the law is being broken in Northamptonshire? Will he review the decision by the previous Secretary of State and discover whether the decision in Northamptonshire fulfils the law under section 8 of the 1944 Act?

Dr. Boyson

Any complaint to my Department is examined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. As Chairman of the Select Committee on the subject, the hon. Gentleman will know that inspectors are inspecting the schools. Any complaints will be examined carefully and answered to the satisfaction of right hon. and hon. Members.

Mr. Dobson:

Will the Minister explain to parents in London why he is willing to pay £70 million towards expenditure on education in Northamptonshire where, in the opinion of parents there, there is an inadequate standard of education, but unwilling to provide one shilling towards inner London's education costs? Does he agree that his own malignant officials and his own malignant colleagues on the Front Bench have decided that the ILEA is providing a decent standard of education?

Dr. Boyson

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for asking that question. Inner London, for which the hon. Gentleman asks for more money, spends almost twice as much on the education of children—£925 per child—as Northamptonshire. I do not believe that it requires any more money to achieve the same standards.