News Release

11th July 2002

"UNFAIR" STAFFORDSHIRE SCHOOL FUNDING RAISED IN HOUSE

Michael Fabricant raised in the House of Commons today the thorny question of Staffordshire School Funding following the publication earlier this week of the Government's long-awaited Local Government Funding Consultation Paper. Far from providing fair funding for Staffordshire schoolchildren who are currently 2nd from bottom in the national funding league, of the 4 options suggested by the paper: three options would slash funding to Staffordshire Schools while the fourth would provide just slightly more funding but widen the funding gap between schools in Staffordshire and those in other counties.

In calling for a full debate in the House on these proposals, Michael Fabricant told the Leader of the House, Robin Cook, this morning (Thursday 11th July): "Can you imagine the disappointment felt by headteachers, teachers, and parents in Staffordshire that this long-awaited report does nothing to right the injustice to Staffordshire education?" Michael reminded the House that it was a Labour election pledge back in 1997 to right this wrong within 1 year in office.

Michael Fabricant now says "But despite this delay, we all had high hopes for this long-awaited Paper. It is devastating that the gap between Staffordshire education funding and those of other counties will grow still worse under all four options proposed in the Paper and there is a possibility that we may even suffer further cuts.

"As one local headteacher said to me: 'Can you believe this? In the light of all that has gone on over the years with our fair funding campaign for a better deal for Staffordshire?!'

"I now hope that all Staffordshire MPs will unite with the County Council to make counter-proposals in a last ditch effort to secure a better future for students in Staffordshire schools. I will continue to make representations in Parliament to Ministers and others over the finding in this Paper. I hope other Staffordshire MPs - regardless of Party - will do so too".

The paper referred to is "Local Government Finance: Formula Grant Distribution, A Consultation Paper"