HC Deb 04 June 1984 vol 61 cc9-10
7. Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what figures were included in the grant-related expenditure assessment for 1984–85 of West Glamorgan county council in respect of free bus travel for schoolchildren.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

The grant-related expenditure assessment is based on the fundamental principle that block grant is paid to support local authority expenditure generally and is not earmarked for particular services.

Mr. Anderson

Will the Minister come clean and admit that the Welsh Office forced these cuts in free school transport on West Glamorgan because there were no other options available in time? Is the Welsh Office aware of the danger to schoolchildren on our busy roads? Is the Minister aware of the anger of parents and the distress which is being caused to families on low incomes in an area of high unemployment and high bus fares as a result of these cuts? Will he remove the pressure that has been placed on local authorities and withdraw the cuts? When will the cuts that are being made by the Government in our education services come to an end?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I shall, as always, come clean with the House and refute what the hon. Gentleman said about the imposition of my right hon. Friend's decision on the local authority. After taking account of inflation, spending on education has remained virtually unchanged since the mid-1970s. Since that period pupil numbers have fallen by over 10 per cent., while teacher numbers have fallen by 6 per cent. As a result, the pupil-teacher ratio is now at its most favourable level ever and spending per pupil has also increased.

Mr. Williams

Does the Minister understand that his answer was to a question that has not been asked? Does he realise that the irrelevant point that he was trying to make lacks any credibility in West Glamorgan and that the people of West Glamorgan regard it as an act of political cowardice for the Government to try to deny responsibility for the social consequences of the cuts which they are imposing on the local authority?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

Again, I refute the suggestion that the cuts are imposed by the Government. The decision is one for the local authority and it would not be right for my right hon. Friend to intervene when the responsibility for such a policy decision is entirely one for the local authority. I was interested to read in Friday's newspapers that the authority is considering ways of helping parents and others who are prepared to help themselves. That is a matter for the authority and not for Ministers.

Mr. Coleman

Does the Minister recall that I warned his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State during the debate on the rate support grant settlement for Wales that if he pursued his proposals for West Glamorgan there would be cuts of £2 million in the education budget? Is he aware of the anger of parents that is being expressed in West Glamorgan at the effect of the cuts, the details of which have already been given? Will he relent before he does further damage to the fabric of education in West Glamorgan?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I can only repeat that it would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to exercise his powers of direction in circumstances when, as in this instance, it appears that the authority is acting in accordance with its obligations under the law and is responsibly trying to find a way of meeting understandable anxiety, especially on the safety issue mentioned by the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson). It is trying to be as helpful as it can within certain limitations.