Inner London Education Authority

HC Deb 17 July 1984 vol 64 cc160-2

6. Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions he has had with the leader of the Inner London education authority as to future funding of the authority.

Sir Keith Joseph

None, Sir.

Mr. Cox

Is the Secretary of State aware that that is a deplorable reply? Is he completely unaware that the effects of the rate-capping legislation on ILEA will be fewer teachers, fewer school allowances and a reduction in building work? Is he further aware that the present Tory Government have never received any mandate from the people of London for any reduction in our education service? Why does he not face his responsibilities to the children and adults of London in regard to education?

Sir Keith Joseph

Any decision about how to spend the money that is available for education in inner London will fall to ILEA. It has not asked to see me about that and I have not sought a meeting with it. It seems to me that there are several areas in which there is scope for economy without inner London's education being damaged in any way. For example, ILEA charges less for school meals than any other authority in the country and its charges for adult education courses are little more than half the average. I could give several other examples, spending on which could be reduced without there being any damage to the quality to education in inner London.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

Now that the Government have taken what I believe to be the right decision and are going for a directly elected membership of ILEA, would my right hon. Friend care to emphasise to its potential members that the problem of education in inner London is not one of inadequacy of resources but rather one of the need to motivate pupils in schools?

Sir Keith Joseph

I entirely agree with my right hon. and learned Friend. ILEA has some extremely zealous teachers and has pioneered much in education. However, it seems unable to justify, either in terms of effectiveness or in terms of results, a vast amount of the money that it spends.

Mr. Corbyn

Is the Secretary of State aware that the disgraceful statement that he has just made about the school meals service in London and the funding of ILEA will cause a great deal of hardship throughout London? Is he further aware that if school meal prices are raised, children will go hungry and school meals workers will be sacked, just to starve the children? Is he further aware that ILEA is the only education authority that receives no Government funding? Conservative Members could not give a damn——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman has had three bites already.

Sir Keith Joseph

There are free school meals.[Interruption.]

Mr. Corbyn

rose——

Mr. Speaker

Order. Has the Secretary of State finished?

Sir Keith Joseph

Yes.

Mr. Corbyn

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I shall take points of order afterwards.

Mr. Corbyn

rose——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I asked the Secretary of State whether he had finished answering the hon. Gentleman's question and he indicated that he had.

Mrs. Rumbold

As my right hon. Friend has rightly agreed that the new ILEA should be directly elected, and as that authority will be the only education authority that will not have the constraints of other service committees to contend with when it examines its budget, how will constraints be put on the new directly elected authority to contain its budget?

Sir Keith Joseph

It has yet to be decided and announced to which authorities rate capping will be applied. There could conceivably be a decision to apply it to ILEA, in which case there would be constraints additional to those that are normally applied to all local authorities.

Mr. Radice

Perhaps the Secretary of State can answer this question. As a democrat, can he not understand that the combination of rate capping, the three-year control of ILEA's budget and manpower by his Department and, from last night, the prospect of an immediate power over contracts worth more than £100,000, amounts to an utterly unacceptable interference by the Government in the running of inner London education?

Sir Keith Joseph

No, because present spending by ILEA is at the expense, to some extent, of jobs for Londoners——

Mr. Radice

Prove it.

Sir Keith Joseph

I can prove that by the general proposition that the money must come from somewhere. It comes largely from business, which is driven out of London, so the number of jobs dwindles. Secondly, high-spending local authorities which, exceptionally these days, refuse to comply with the elected Government's general economic strategy are still subject to the rule of law by Parliament. That is why it is legitimate to apply some constraints.