§ 51. Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what have been the reductions in local authority expenditure and that of his Department, respectively, in adult education for each of the years 1980–81 and 1981–82.
§ Mr. Mark Carlisle: The Government's expenditure plans assume that current expenditure by local authorities on adult education in England will fall below the level of spending in 1978–79 by £12½ million in the financial year 1980–81 (which includes only part of the academic year 1980–81) and by £17 million in 1981–82. It is hoped that these reductions can be achieved by an increase in fees rather than a reduction in the number of adults benefiting from provision. Provision has been made for spending by my Department on grants to various bodies, including the establishment of the adult literacy and basic skills unit, to be increased by about £1 million in 1980–81 and 1981–82.