§ Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why in the White Paper on Public Expenditure, Command Paper No. 4234, the estimated rate of increase for education in 1972–73 and 1973–74 is less than in the previous three years.
§ Mr. Edward ShortAs the White Paper itself makes clear in paragraphs 33 and 35 the figures shown for 1972–73 and 1973–74 are provisional and may be expected to change as programmes are rolled forward. They are therefore not comparable with the figures for earlier years, which are the outcome of firm Government decisions on expenditure.