§ Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the quantative and qualitative changed factors which will enable existing educational standards to be maintained over the next four years at an annual increase in real terms of about three per cent. compared with an annual increase in educational expenditure of about six per cent. between 1959–60 and 1967–68.
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§ Mr. Edward ShortAn annual increase of about 6 per cent. between 1959–60 and 1967–68 enabled standards to be improved for rising numbers of pupils and students. An annual increase of about 3 per cent. over the next four years would enable existing standards to be maintained for rising numbers. In each of the next two years I expect expenditure on education to rise by about 4 per cent. in real terms. This should allow for an improvement in staffing standards in the schools: elsewhere there will be only limited room for improvements in standards.