HC Deb 19 February 1985 vol 73 cc851-2
11. Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implication of the White Paper on public expenditure, Cmnd. 9428, for education provision.

Sir Keith Joseph

Provision for local authority current expenditure on education in 1985–86 is increased by nearly £300 million over previous plans, when allowance is made for the abolition of the national insurance surcharge and the transfer of some funds to the Manpower Services Commission. For universities, additional resources have been provided for the improvement on a selective basis of science equipment in universities, but planned recurrent expenditure is slightly reduced as a consequence of the revised pay assumption.

Mr. Roberts

Why does the Minister behave like Pontius Pilate in blaming local authorities for his own actions? Surely he is calling the tune because he is refusing to pay the piper. Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that, for instance, in the White Paper there is an 11.3 per cent. cut in revenue for special education provision for those in most need, the disabled and the handicapped, and a dramatic cut in capital expenditure for provision for the under-fives, when only about 40 per cent. of them can participate is such education? Does not the right hon. Gentleman not accept that — [HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] You would have thought, Mr. Speaker, that as honours have been heaped upon me by my school, unlike other hon. Members, they would listen with some respect. [Interruption.] Conservative Members have raised the subject enough today. Does the right hon. Gentleman not accept that the provisions in the Government's public expenditure White Paper mark an attack on education provision?

Sir Keith Joseph

The hon. Gentleman is forgetting, while he sits back smirking with self-satisfaction—

Mr. Roberts

I am listening.

Sir Keith Joseph

The hon. Gentleman is forgetting, first, that there is still a fall in the number of children in schools, secondly, that there is an unallocated margin in addition to that shown for education, part of which will be spent on education; and thirdly, that I announced in my answer to him an increase of £300 million.

Mr. Heddle

Does my right hon. Friend acknowledge that much of the money that is set aside in the White Paper for education provision will go to secondary school pupils between the age of 11 and 16 who will not take their places at school because they are hard-core truants? Is there not a link between hard-core truancy and teenage crime? Will my right hon. Friend set about discussing with colleagues in the Home Office how that evil can be stamped out?

Sir Keith Joseph

I accept much of what my hon. Friend says. The Government hope to publish soon proposals to improve the effectiveness of the education welfare service.

Mr. Ryman

Is it not possible to get a sensible answer from the Secretary of State? How does he reconcile the answer that he has just given with his recent decision to refuse permission to Northumberland county council to build a high school in Cramlington?

Sir Keith Joseph

In order to reduce the risks of yet higher unemployment by overspending, the Government are restraining the capital allocations for local education authorities.