HC Deb 24 January 1996 vol 270 cc342-3
10. Mr. Mark Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional resources will be provided for education in Somerset in 1995–96. [9424]

Mr. Robin Squire

Somerset's education standard spending assessment increased by £3.5 million in 1995–96 and is set to rise by £7.4 million or 5.1 per cent. in 1996–97.

Mr. Robinson

Does my hon. Friend share the outrage of parents, teachers and governors in Somerset and my constituency at the fact that the Liberal Democrat-controlled county council is thinking of not passing on up to £3 million of that £7.4 million to schools in Somerset? Is that not particularly disappointing given the excellent series of reports that the Office for Standards in Education has recently issued that show the quality of the schools in my constituency?

Mr. Squire

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. He will remember—as I suspect do all my hon. Friends—that throughout the past year the Liberal Democrats have been accusing the Government of underspending on education. Now, as my hon. Friend rightly said, as a result of the settlement announced, there is ample opportunity in Somerset for the Liberal Democrat council to spend that money on education. If it does not do so, to use a word in common usage at present, it will be being hypocritical.

Mr. Don Foster

Further to the reply that the Minister has just given, will he confirm to the House that the capping limit on Somerset is such that it may raise its cash limit by only 3.1 per cent.? Will the Minister confirm that Somerset has received only 20 per cent. of its request for capital allocation? Will the Minister confirm that service delivery increases in Somerset—through rising pupil numbers, inflationary prices and changes in legislation alone—will cost £10 million? Will the Minister confirm that Somerset is a prime example of why the report by the Tory-dominated Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee said of education spending that the Chancellor's Budget did not live up to the claims that he was making in it?

Mr. Squire

The total increase in spending that Somerset can make next year is about £8.5 million—the type of figure for all services that most local education authorities would be delighted to receive. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that a restricted document has fallen into public ownership. I am a little unclear whether his contribution today should be described as naive, woolly or barmy—all words used in the document—but I would say to him that it is right and proper for the local education authority in Somerset to be able to spend that money overwhelmingly on education, and it has the means to do so.

Mr. David Nicholson

Will my hon. Friend support the efforts made by Conservative Members and Conservative county councillors in Somerset to ensure that all the money budgeted for education this year goes to schools and is not retained by county hall? Apart from the resource argument, will he acknowledge that there must be constant pressure to improve teaching methods and standards in schools, which is why all Conservative Members welcome the motives of, and commend the example shown by, the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman)?

Mr. Squire

I agree with both the main points made by my hon. Friend. As he well knows, the Government are committed to raising standards in all our schools—including those in inner cities, which appear to be so unpopular at present among Opposition Members.