§ 34. Mr. MansTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to visit the borough of Wyre to discuss Duchy appointments.
§ Mr. David HuntI would be delighted to visit Wyre.
§ Mr. MansWhen my right hon. Friend manages to visit Wyre, which he has said he would be delighted to do, and speaks to the borough representatives of the Duchy, will he make a particular point of discussing the education policy of Lancashire county council? Is he aware that this year it has cut the delegated schools budget by £18.5 million, but cut its own administrative overheads by only £500,000? In percentage terms, it has cut the delegated schools budget by 5.5 per cent. but has cut transport and social services by 3.5 per cent. or less.
§ Mr. HuntMy hon. Friend has revealed a disquieting state of affairs. I very much hope that, following representations from him and his colleagues in Lancashire, the county council will now reconsider its approach.