§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what practical responses he intends to make in the light of problems raised by Her Majesty's Inspectors' recent report on education expenditure.
§ Sir Keith JosephI have invited the local authority associations to discuss the report with me when they are ready to do so.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the financial constraint in schools and colleges highlighted by Her Majesty's Inspectors' recent report on education expenditure, he intends easing the spending limits presently imposed on local education authorities.
§ Sir Keith JosephNo. The report concludes —paragraph 10—that the levels of appropriate resources in schools and colleges were slightly improved in autumn 1983 from those of the previous year, particularly with regard to the provision of teachers and books. It also notes that good management helps to enhance the level and appropriateness of resources and of what can be achieved with them — paragraph 14 — and that the quality of teaching is of great importance—paragraph 8.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the criticisms of the provision for non-advanced further education made in Her Majesty's Inspectors' recent report on education expenditure, he intends making any significant alteration in the level of resources dedicated to this area before the proposed implementation of the programme outlined in the Government White Paper, "Training For Jobs".
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§ Sir Keith JosephNo. The report concludes —paragraph 68 — that the FHE system is in general reasonably well resourced.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the level of spending per pupil in secondary education by local education authorities in England for each year since 1980–81; and what is the estimate for 1984–85 in cost terms and real terms using 1980–81 as the base year.
§ Mr. DunnThe information is as follows for the period 1980–81 to 1982–83, the latest year for which actual figures are available:
Cost per pupil in secondary education (England) Financial year £ 1980–81 770 1981–82 870 1982–83 945 Disaggregated information about the budgeted level of spending per pupil in secondary education by local education authorities in England for 1984–85 is not yet available.