§ 11. Mr. Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire)What was the real-terms percentage change per pupil in the education standard spending assessment of Worcestershire for 1998–99 compared to 1997–98. [43766]
§ The Minister for School Standards (Mr. Stephen Byers)The real-terms increase was 1.85 per cent. per primary pupil and 1.21 per cent. per secondary pupil. That amounts to an extra £94 for every primary pupil and an extra £106 for every secondary pupil.
§ Mr. LuffDoes the Minister understand that, notwithstanding those figures, school budgets are being cut? Most parents, teachers and governors in Worcestershire think that, when the Prime Minister spoke of "education, education, education", he meant "education cut, education cut, education cut". Will the Minister give an early—preferably urgent—pledge that, next year, Worcestershire will have an increase at least equal to that of other education authorities, and preferably more, to make up for this year's frankly shocking settlement?
§ Mr. ByersThe hon. Gentleman is letting his prejudices get in the way of fact. The reality is that an extra £106 will be provided for every secondary pupil in Worcestershire this year. That stands in stark contrast to what occurred in the five years between 1992 and 1997—a period in which the hon. Gentleman was a Conservative 1188 Member of Parliament for Worcestershire—when there was a real-terms cut of £177 for every secondary school pupil in Worcestershire. The facts are simple: in the last five years of the Conservative Government, there was a real-terms cut of £177 for secondary pupils in Worcestershire, and, one year into a Labour Government, there has been an increase of £106 for every secondary age pupil in Worcestershire. Those are the facts—not the prejudice of Opposition Members.