Topical question asked in the House of Commons, by Peter Luff (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 12 November 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Topical Questions

Question: The campaign undertaken by the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) will work only if this year's figures are sustained year after year, so that the gap is closed. Will anything in today's school funding settlement make a significant contribution to addressing the fundamental unfairness that results in a 600-pupil three-form entry primary school in an affluent area of Birmingham getting £1 million more a year—over £1,600 per pupil more—than a primary school of identical size in a less affluent area of Worcester?

Answer: I pay tribute to the work that the hon. Gentleman has done, but I pay particular tribute to the work that my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) has done to raise concerns on behalf of the county. If the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) looks at the figures for Worcestershire, he will see that its dedicated school grant is up by 13.4 per cent. per pupil over the settlement period. That is above the average. It is narrowing the gap between Worcestershire and the more highly funded authorities, and I am sure that he welcomes that.

Secondary information