HC Deb 25 February 1985 vol 74 c11W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources he intends to allocate to local education authorities to enable them to update reading texts in primary schools.

Mr. Dunn

It is for local authorities and schools themselves to determine their provision for books in the light of local circumstances, and to choose which books to purchase. We have made clear our view that this is an area which should be given priority within the resources available. The Government's plans for local authority expenditure on education in 1985–86 provide scope for some improvement in the level of provision per pupil for books, compared to 1982–83, provided costs are contained and feasible savings made elsewhere.