§ 22. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding expenditure on education in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no recent representations about expenditure on education in Derbyshire.
§ Mr. SkinnerWell, I am asking him now. Is the Minister aware that the standard spending assessment of Derbyshire was calculated on the basis of a 3.8 per cent. increase for teachers' pay, which was not sufficient and that, as a result of the threatened poll tax capping, large numbers of nursery schools in Derbyshire will not be built? I call on the Secretary of State now in this Chamber to guarantee that the expenditure for every one of those nursery schools in Derbyshire will be allowed, including the one at Langwith in my constituency.
§ Mr. HowarthDerbyshire's budget for 1990–91 for all services is a hefty 25 per cent. above its standard spending assessment, an extra burden of £157 per charge payer. Other education authorities throughout the land have established satisfactory budgets for education without burdening the charge payer in the intolerable way that Derbyshire has proposed. There is no reason why Derbyshire should not similarly set its house in order.