§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will clarify the press statement issued by his Department on behalf of the Minister of State on 5 November, in which she says that four-fifths of the £280 million to be saved by local education authorities will come from meals, milk and transport, but quotes a balance of only £30 million, which is less than one-fifth of £280 million, as the total of savings to be made elsewhere.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe press notice referred to "over four-fifths". Our plans for 1980–81 provide for a reduction of £250 million in expenditure on school meals, milk and transport compared with estimated expenditure on these services in 1978–79. This leaves the balance of £30 million as quoted.