§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the level of expenditure per pupil on text and library books in primary schools.
§ Mr. Chris PattenSince 1979, spending per primary pupil on books has increased slightly in real terms as measured by the GDP deflator. In their report "The Effect of Local Authority Expenditure Policies on Education Provision in England— 1984" Her Majesty's inspectors stated that the level of book provision in primary schools was
satisfactory or better in over four-fifths of LEAs".The Government's expenditure plans allow authorities to give priority to expenditure on books so long as they take advantage of the scope for savings elsewhere in the education budget and contain their costs.