§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will institute a campaign to see that the circular on school uniform issued in 1977 is carried out, and that no secondary school demands, from pupils starting in 485W September, more in the way of school uniform than can be purchased by the maximum local authority distinctive clothing grant available in that area.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe circular letter of 26th May 1977 was issued in response to a suggestion that some local education authorities would welcome my right hon. Friend's views on school uniform. The letter suggested in effect that schools should be moderate in their requirements and that authorities should avoid a situation where the cost of the uniform greatly exceeded the help available. I regret that some authorities do not provide clothing grants commensurate with the demands they allow schools in their area to make but under existing statutory arrangements my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now institute a survey into the level of distinctive and necessitous clothing grants paid by each local education authority in England and Wales.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend is already well aware of the wide variation in the policies that have been adopted by local education authorities in
November 1976 price average cost (£) per pupil of Estimated expenditure on school transport (£m) Pupils attending school* school transport books, etc.† Kent … … … … … … 3.636 264,000 13.80 16.50 Essex … … … … … … 3.502 269,000 13.00 11.80 Lancashire … … … … … 3.055 249,000 12.30 11.90 Hampshire … … … … … … 2.935 265,000 11.10 13.80 Devon … … … … … … 2.630 150,000 17.50 11.70 Hertfordshire … … … … … 2.369 183,000 12.90 16.40 Notes: * Primary, secondary and special. † Books, educational and physical education equipment, stationery, and materials.