§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average expenditure in Scottish(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools (1) in total and (2) in each council area on (i) books, (ii) educational equipment and materials and (iii) other equipment (x) in each council area in 1997–98 and 1998–99 and (y) in total in (A) 1983–84, (B) 1988–89 and (C) each year since 1993–94 at 1998–99 prices. [76623]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 19 March 1999]: The information requested up to the year 1996–97 is given in the table, which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. There can be variations in the recording of expenditure under the two headings of books and expenditure. It is, therefore, possible that some expenditure on books may be included under expenditure on equipment or vice versa. Expenditure on other equipment is not identified separately in local authority returns to The Scottish Office. Information on actual expenditure by education authorities in Scotland in financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not yet available.
Ministers have announced since February that additional resources for books, totalling £7.8 million, are being made available in 1998–99 on top of local authority existing provision.
Expenditure per pupil on text and library books and on educational tools, equipment and materials adjusted to 1998–99 prices using the GDP deflator £ Primary Secondary Year Books Equipment Books Equipment 1983–84 17.04 13.80 25.30 48.07 1988–89 16.57 19.53 27.37 74.01 1993–94 10.98 38.25 16.06 90.36 1994–95 9.56 42.99 12.95 93.34 1995–96 9.09 47.64 13.72 95.70 1996–97 6.47 42.81 9.09 84.46 From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.