§ 17. Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Educational Publishers Association on the provision of books in schools.
§ 21. Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received on the provision of books in schools.
§ Mr. Chris PattenDuring 1985 the Educational Publishers Association made representations to the Department about the level of expenditure on school books, and in particular the provision of books for the GCSE. I also had a meeting with it last February at which these issues were discussed. In addition, Ministers have received a number of letters from members of the public about the level of expenditure on school books.
§ Mr. BanksHow can the Minister defend a 28.4 per cent. cut in real terms in book expenditure in the past five years? Is he aware that in the London borough of Richmond, controlled by the Liberal party, there has been a reduction in the past year of 77 per cent. in book