§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the approximate expenditure of local education authorities on expendable educational materials and books in primary and secondary schools, respectively, for each of the years 1970–74, each year as a percentage of actual expenditure in 1970 and the index of prices for each year using 1970 as a base year.
§ Mr. MulleyThe information requested is set out in the attached table. 341W
342W
LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE ON EQUIPMENT AND BOOKS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS Financial Years 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Recurrent expenditure on text and library books: £ million at outturn prices 6.7 8.9 8.1 11.1 9.7 13.0 11.0 14.8 12.2 16.2 As percentage of 1970–71 expenditure 100 100 120 125 144 146 163 167 181 183 Recurrent expenditure on equipment, stationery and materials: £ million at outturn prices 13.9 20.6 16.5 24.3 19.0 28.9 21.5 34.6 27.9 42.2 As percentage of 1970–71 expenditure 100 100 118 118 137 140 155 168 200 205 Retail price index at beginning of year (April 1970=100): Books, newspapers and periodicals 100 111 128 132 152 Stationery, travel and sports goods, photographic and optical goods etc. 100 112 115 117 131