I move:

That a sum not exceeding £285,528,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1982, for Primary Education, including National School Teachers' Superannuation, etc.

On the question of cuts in the various Departments, can the Minister assure the House that there will be no cuts in the area of primary education which is grossly underfinanced? Also, can the Minister state specifically that the school entry age will not be raised once again.

I can confirm that no staff economies or cuts on other items of expenditure are being sought in this Vote and that it is not the intention of the Government to increase the school entry age.

In other words, is the Minister saying that there is no foundation for an article that appeared in a national newspaper last week suggesting that there were various savings to be effected both in this Vote and in the next Vote by way of the abolition of the school transport system?

I have no responsibility for articles that appear in newspapers.

That is not my question. I am asking whether the report was correct.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no foundation for statements of that nature.