HC Deb 26 January 1987 vol 109 cc15-6W
Mr. Radice

asked the Secretary of State for Eucation and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated unit cost in 1985–86 for (a) maintained primary schools and (b) maintained secondary schools.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

On the basis of an apportionment of local education authorities' budgeted expenditure on education and attributing to 1985–86 back pay owed for that year, I estimate that the net recurrent expenditures per pupil in England were £810 in maintained primary schools and £1,200 in secondary schools. I would hope to have firm figures before Easter, but a few local education authorities have not yet reported their actual expenditure in 1985–86.

I take this opportunity to correct an error in table 3.12.6 of the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 56). The percentage increase in real terms expenditure per pupil over the 1979–80 level is 18 per cent. for 1984–85, and is estimated at 22 per cent. for 1985–86, rather than the figures of 20 per cent. for the former year, and 24 per cent. for the latter, given in the table.