§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what occasion and in what terms he announced that he was making a phased reduction of 8.3 per cent. over a three-year period in his grant to the Workers Educational Association; by what amount he is reducing grants to university extra mural and continuing education departments over the same period; and what estimate he has made of the effects of such reductions on the quality of adult education.
§ Mr. BrookeAll English WEA districts were informed by letter dated 16 December 1983 of phased reductions in the planned aggregate total of grants to them from £2.4 million in academic year 1983–84 to £2.2 million in30W 1986–87 (figures at current prices). Parallel reductions from £5.6 million to £4.8 million are being made in the case of university extra mural and continuing education departments. No adverse effect on the quality of adult education should result provided steps are taken to increase fee income from those who can afford to pay and to improve cost effectiveness.