§ 14. Mr. KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent per pupil in secondary schools in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1978–79, at constant prices.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsProvisional figures for 1986–87 show a unit cost figure of £1,320 for each secondary school pupil in Wales, compared with £1,033 in 1978–79 at constant prices.
§ Mr. KnoxCan my hon. Friend say whether capital allocations to schools in Wales have increased over the same period?
§ Mr. RobertsI am happy to tell my hon. Friend that there has indeed been a substantial increase in capital allocations. The system was introduced in 1981–82 and from then to the current year there has been an increase of 50 per cent. The capital allocation for this year amounts 14 to £43 million, and for next year a capital allocation of £47.5 million has been announced by my right hon. Friend, which is a further increase of 9.1 per cent.