HC Deb 28 October 1982 vol 29 cc550-1W
Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what proportion expenditure on books, equipment and materials, respectively, has fallen in schools in England in each of the last seven years.

Dr. Boyson

The following figures show local authorities' expenditure per pupil at constant prices on books and on equipment (including materials) in primary and in secondary schools in the years 1975–76 to 1980–81 (figures for 1981–82 are not yet available) as a proportion of expenditure in 1974–75:

Books Equipment
Primary Secondary Primary Secondary
1974–75 1 1 1 1
1975–76 1.02 0.99 1.00 0.97
1976–77 1.04 1.00 0.95 0.91
1977–78 1.06 1.01 0.88 0.82
1978–79 1.125 1.03 0.90 0.87
1979–80 1.08 1.00 0.87 0.82
1980–81 1.10 0.93 0.83 0.79