§ 16. Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average sum per pupil spent on the purchase of books in primary and in secondary schools during 1992.
§ Mr. BoswellIn 1990–91, the latest year for which figures are available, the average expenditure on books and equipment in LEA-maintained schools in England was £41 per nursery and primary pupil and £80 per secondary pupil.
§ Mr. HardyDoes the Minister realise that the costs of books and papers for teachers dealing with the national curriculum and testing in our primary schools now greatly exceed the sums available for the purchase of books for the children? Does the Minister not consider it absurd that more literature—if that is the right word—is reaching primary schools for the teachers' reading than for the pupils?
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government are aware of the costs of books and equipment. That is one reason why we provide excellent resources for the delivery of the national curriculum. It is also a matter of fact that we have increased spending throughout the country on books and equipment by some 31 per cent. in real terms during our period in office. May I suggest that the hon. Gentleman has a word with the Rotherham LEA, because it appears from the figures I have quoted that in that relevant year its spending was only half the national average? That may be a matter of some concern, although it is a decision for the LEA.
§ Mr. OppenheimBearing in mind that grant-maintained schools have more scope to spend money on priorities such as books, will my hon. Friend congratulate Councillor Heeley, a Labour councillor in Amber Valley, who recently, as chairman of governors, proved right the old adage that it is never too late to learn by supporting the school's successful bid to go grant maintained? Does my hon. Friend think that this presages a change in Labour policy, bearing in mind that the Labour party has already done U-turns on devolved budgets, the core curriculum and testing?
§ Mr. BoswellI am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments. We are always pleased to accept conversions, even at a late hour. The body of evidence building up in favour of the attractions of grant-maintained schools and their capacity to deliver and resource education is growing. I am glad that even members of the Labour party are beginning to accept it.
§ Mr. Don FosterIn view of the answer that the Minister has just given, will he make it clear to the House whether he believes that what the hon. Member for Amber Valley 151 (Mr. Oppenheim) said—that schools that opt for grant-maintained status are automatically given more money for more books—is true or false?
§ Mr. BoswellThe fact is that they receive no additional resources for their current expenditure and the fact that they are able to make better use of them is a tribute to them and to their governors.