§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to expand the allocation of central Government funds specifically intended for book purchase and other library expenditure in universities, polytechnics and colleges.
§ Mr. DunnFor the universities, my right hon. Friend has said that he expects the University Grants Committee to make provision for increases in library purchasing from the additional grants for the universities of £61 million for the financial year 1987–88 and £71 million for 1988–89 that he announced on 6 November at column 490. There is no specific earmarking of funds for book purchase and library expenditure in the advanced further educaton pool from which polytechnics and colleges are funded. The AFE pool will, however, show an increase of provision of 8 per cent. in 1987–88 over the current year.