§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much capital spending on education increased(a) on average over the period 1978–79 to 1997–98 and (b) in 1998–99. [46432]
§ Mr. DarlingTable 3.7 ofPublic Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 1998–99 (Cm 3901) shows figures for central Government and local authority capital spending on education for 1992–93 to 1997–98. An equivalent figure for total capital spending on education in 1998–99 has not yet been published. Data on a comparable basis are not readily available back to 1978–79, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. National Accounts data for general government capital expenditure on education, which use a slightly different definition and are presented on a calender year basis, show an average fall in real terms of around 0.2 per cent. per annum over the period 1978 to 1996. A figure consistent with this series for 1997 is not yet available.