asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will convene a conference of the chairmen of local education authorities to consider expenditure plans for the coming financial year.

No. I keep in touch with the views of local education authorities by meeting members of the local authority associations. I have met them on six occasions since May. The staff of my Department also keep in close touch with officers of the associations: they are holding a joint meeting next week to consider the Government's spending plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the total cost of public expenditure allocated to education services for 1979–80; and what was tilt total cost for 1978–79 at that year's prices.

In 1978–79 expenditure on education in England and Wales—with universities in Great Britain—was about £7,900 million at outturn prices for that year. For 1979–80 the impact of the Government's request for savings on local authority expenditure on the total planned expenditure for education of £8,030 million at November 1978 prices cannot yet be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has now received against the reductions in expenditure on education.

I have received representations from many interested organisations and individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply he has sent to the acting chairman of Wiltshire education committee to her letter to him of 26 October regarding the effects of expenditure cuts in the education service.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Government's expenditure plans as they relate to capital expenditure for school improvements, under-fives and further and higher education.

Building starts programmes—for England only—for 1980–81 are as follows: