§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the expenditure per pupil on text books in the United Kingdom for 1980, 1985 and 1990.
§ Mr. ForthAverage expenditure per pupil in nursery, primary and secondary schools in England on books and equipment for 1980–81, 1985–86 and 1990–91 was £22, £35 and £57 respectively. The real terms increase on spending per pupil between 1980–81 and 1990–91 was 40 per cent. Not all local authorities separate expenditure between that on books and that on equipment. Expenditure on schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.