Local MP secures Westminster debate on education funding
Posted by Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, at 14:44, Wed 22 March 2006:
Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has secured a debate in parliament on education funding in the East Riding.
Within the crowded schedule in parliament, time is set aside for general debates on topics chosen by MPs. These debates enable MPs to summon government ministers for questioning and ensures parliament examines government policy on an issue. Graham, who has repeatedly applied for a debate in the House of Commons on this issue, said;
“This is a great opportunity to draw even more attention to the unfair system of funding for children in the East Riding. This is exactly what I have been fighting for. The Government cannot turn its back on the East Riding and must take further steps to ensure that local education funding is distributed more fairly.”
It was announced in December that pupil funding for the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2006/07 will be the fourth lowest out of 149 education authorities. It will receive just £3,322 per pupil, less than half the sum awarded to top funded authorities such as the City of London, which will receive £6,708.
Graham has already met with David Kidney MP, who is Chairman of the f40 group of poorly funded local education authorities, and has been supporting the East Riding and the f40 team’s efforts to provide a practical financial model to improve the funding regime. Graham is also meeting with Douglas Carswell MP, a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee, on Monday to discuss trying to change the way the Government allocates funding for local authorities.
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