HL Deb 29 June 1984 vol 453 cc1220-2WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will explain the reduction in expenditure on adult education from £91 million in 1983–84 to £74 million in 1984–85 set out in Cmnd. 9143, in the light of the statements made by the Earl of Swinton on 20th June 1984 (H.L. debates, col. 375).

The Earl of Swinton

The figures quoted by the noble Baroness from Cmnd. 9143 cover:

  1. (a) grants paid by the Department of Education and Science in respect of trade union studies;
  2. (b) grants paid by the Department of Education and Science to university extra-mural departments, the Workers' Educational Association, long-term residential colleges and national adult education associations; and
  3. (c) expenditure on adult education by local education authorities (England) but do not include;
  4. (d) expenditure by the Department of Education and Science on the PICKUP programme.

The figures for (a), (b), and (d) taken together show increases. In the case of (c) figures for 1983–84 and 1984–85 are not directly comparable.

The first is based on an estimate of overall outturn expenditure by local authorities on education. The second takes no account of the existence of the margin of expenditure not allocated to specific services but included in local authorities' targets for all services. In 1984–85 this unallocated sum is £660 million. Some of it is no doubt being spent on adult aducation.

Baroness Lockwood

asked Her Majesty'sGovernment:

To give an itemised breakdown of the grants included in the 1979–80 total expenditure grant of £7.2 million for adult education and the 1983–84grant totalling £12.7 million referred to on 20th June 1984 (H.L. debates, col. 375).

The Earl of Swinton

The grants included in the 1979–80 total expenditure grant of £7.2 million for adult education and the 1983–84 grant totalling £12.7 million were as follows:

1979–80 1983–84
£'000 £'000
University extra-mural departments 3,612 5,255
Workers' Educational Association districts 1,157 2,307
Long-term residential colleges (a) 1,745 2620
National associations 1,745 2,620
Professional Industrial and Commercial Updating (PICKUP) — 654

(a) Includes adult education bursaries for students, and capital expenditure.