HC Deb 30 October 1984 vol 65 cc1151-2
10. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the level of education resources allocated to areas of high social need.

Mr. Dunn

The varying social circumstances of different local education authorities are taken into account in the way rate support grant is allocated to individual authorities.

Mr. Cohen

As the Minister responsible, does the hon. Gentleman not think it wrong that no proper account is taken of social deprivation in the distribution of the further education pool? Is the Minister not being cynical when he says that local authorities can fill this gap, when they are often hard-pressed and subject to rate-capping because of the Government's policies? When will he accept his responsibilities for east London, where we have the lowest proportion of youngsters going on to higher education, and put up the finance?

Mr. Dunn

The hon. Gentleman shows that it is easy to demand higher expenditure in education. Opposition Members must begin to realise that higher expenditure by local or central Government must be at the expense of other sectors and services.

Mr. Roger King

In last night's Dudley Evening Mail a Black Country employer with job opportunities is quoted as saying that standards of literacy and numeracy among those who apply for jobs are appalling. They included some people who thought that there were seven weeks in a year. Never mind about extra resources; is my hon. Friend satisfied with what he is getting now?

Mr. Dunn

I shall undertake to read the Dudley Evening Mail every night. We are not satisfied with the standards being achieved by many of our schools. The whole thrust of the Secretary of State's Sheffield speech was to highlight the need to improve standards at all levels and at all times.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is the Minister aware that one of the most grievous results of his financial policies in the socially deprived areas is that there has been a considerable cut in the number of welfare staff employed in schools? Does he realise that in areas of high unemployment that places a considerable burden on the teaching staff and is a considerable disadvantage to single-parent families? Will he reconsider the matter and see that the resouces are made available to those areas of high unemployment, such as mine, where the level is above 16 per cent.?

Mr. Dunn

I note the hon. Lady's sincerity and her robust views on the matter. I can only undertake to study the matter that she has raised and see what I can do.

Mr. Stanbrook

My hon. Friend will no doubt agree that the children of poor parents in inner city areas suffer not just from a lack of parental encouragement but from the low quality of staff, discipline and buildings. If we are to promote equal opportunities for all children, how will we overcome those inbuilt obstacles?

Mr. Dunn

The deployment of resources between different services is a matter for each local authority. Members of the local education authority have a duty to take account of the difficulties there. I must point out, however, that in inner London the GLC, ILEA and local London boroughs, rates are having the effect of driving out employers — those who seek to create work—at the expense of those who need work.